Carlton Dry Grant Helps Seven-Piece Take On The World

There's no denying lucky number seven.

In the wake of taking out the inaugural Carlton Dry Global Music Grant, unstoppable septet King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are putting their winnings towards their first tour of the United States, to be followed by a sabbatical period to see them through the rest of the year.

According to drummer and multi-instrumentalist Eric Moore, the tour forms part of a grander plan for King Giz to take their acclaimed wares to the international stage and will be the first time the band have performed away from home.

With $50,000 safely tucked in their collective back pocket since being awarded the grant in October last year, the band are using those funds to pay for their overseas jaunt, which traverses the States and includes Canada.

They will also use the finances to fund a month's stay at an upstate New York ranch, from where the band plans to begin conceiving their next full-length.

The Carlton Dry Global Music Grant was established last year by Carlton Dry, with the express purpose of aiding in paying for an overseas trip for an up-and-coming local artist or band. Carlton Dry, a sponsor of the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) Awards, intends for the grant to be an annual prize.

Of the benefits the grant bestowed upon King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Moore explained: “Having the opportunity to travel and perform overseas will be a huge help to our band. We are a self-sufficient seven-piece that has a lot of expenses. Without the grant, I'm not sure we would be able to take the wonderful opportunities that have been offered to us.”

“This grant is an incredible opportunity for any young Australian band trying to build an international career,” he continued. “There are so many world-class independent bands in this country that just don't have the financial resources to tour extensively and play in different markets. This grant makes that possible.”

The grant requires that entrants are emerging, Australian and self- or independently released, and that the prize money be used exclusively to help tour, showcase, record or relocate overseas to further their careers.

For more information, see the AIR website.