The first batch of judges for the Liverpool Music Awards have been announced – Curator of Liverpool International Festival Yaw Owusu, live event producer and production manager Spike Beecham, broadcaster Roger Hill – who won award last year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, record producer Steve Levine and D.J. Billy Butler are the first names to sign up. The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 25th August at St George’s Hall as part of the new Liverpool International Music Festival.

At last year’s ceremony Rebecca Ferguson picked up the award for best female and was presented by Widnes born singer Melanie Chisholm. with featured performances from Lawson, fronted by Liverpool singer Andy Brown, MOBO Unsung award winner Esco Williams, X Factor finalist Craig Colton and the Sense of Sound Choir.

The launch for the second ever Liverpool Music Awards took place on Tuesday evening at Liverpool Town Hall. A host of Liverpool musicians turned out to show their support from the Lightning Seeds, The La’s, The Christians, Esco Williams, Ian Prowse, Stephen Langstaff and Stealing Sheep. The launch saw live performances from some of the city’s most exciting new talent. Last year’s Liverpool Music Awards winners, The Hummingbirds, who won the Ones to Watch category, entertained the crowd along with Silent Sleep, country singer songwriter Katie Nicholas and Alex Evans.

“We had to move the event into the largest room in the Town Hall because of the demand to attend the launch. It’s great that so many people wanted to be there to show their support and help kick things off in style for the second year” said awards director Ellie Phillips.

This year’s Ones to Watch award is dedicated to 18 year old Michael Molloy, who lost his live in a coach crash when returning from the Isle of Wight event Bestival last year. Michael Molloy and Alex Evans recorded Rise and Fall just weeks before Michael’s death in the Bestival coach crash last year.

The awards nominations party will take place at Eric’s on Mathew Street in July.

Nominations for the Liverpool Music Awards opened at midnight on Tuesday 30th April and close at midnight on Friday 31st May. To find out more, visit www.liverpoolmusicawards.com.