LSW to shine spotlight on backroom talent.

Second annual songwriting event to award a #3,000 bursary in a week of activity across the capital

By Stuart Clarke

BLUR BASSIST ALEX JAMES HAS BEEN RECRUITED by the organisers of the annual London Songwriters Week (LSW) to present a new bursary for an aspiring songwriter spotted during this month's event.

The #3,000 bursary will be open to any songwriter of any genre not currently in a recording or publishing deal and will be chosen by a panel of songwriters including James.

Consultant Matthew Tyrrell, the man behind this year's event, says of the prize, "We wanted to create a legacy, to offer something that would help tomorrow's talent progress."

In addition to fronting the prize, James will also be participating in a host of activity around the May 18-22 event and will give a keynote speech covering his experiences as a songwriter, both with Blur and with artists he has co-written with, including Stephen Duffy, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Alison Clarkson.

Now in its second year, LSW puts the spotlight on songwriting and songwriters via a series of seminars, workshops and showcases across the capital. Coinciding with The Ivor Novello Awards on May 21, this year's schedule will also draw on the experiences of a number of leading writers including Sacha Skarbek, who co-wrote James Blunt's global smash You're Beautiful, film composer David Arnold and ...