The award is open to new and emerging unsigned solo artists aged 16+ from England and Wales working within the Folk, Rock, Indie, Psychedelic and Alternative genres, with the recipient receiving vital career support from the festival, including profile slots on their Janice Long Stage in both 2026 and 2027.

The deadline for 2026 award applications is Friday 31st July.

Liverpool-born Janice Long’s broadcasting career stretches across five decades. The first woman to gain a daily music show on BBC Radio 1, she went on to host shows across BBC Radio 2, BBC 6Music, BBC Wales, Greatest Hits Radio, XFM and BBCWM – where she embraced Birmingham. A pioneer, she was also the first regular female presenter on legendary BBC One chart show, Top Of The Pops.

After compèring the very first Moseley Folk Festival in 2006, Janice continued to visit the annual event until her tragic passing in 2021. Her positivity and love of music left an indelible impression on visiting acts, festival organisers and audiences.

Previous recipients of Hello You! – named after Janice’s catchphrase – are Bobby West, Louie Miles and Brown Horse. The festival’s Second Stage was renamed in Janice’s honour in 2022.

Gerv Havill, Moseley Folk and Arts Festival co-director, said: “Supporting new artists has always been central to our festival. The Janice Long Stage sits right alongside our Main Stage, so when more established acts are setting up, new grassroots acts can play to a full audience.

“Our audience need only turn their heads to see back-to-back up-and-coming talent. We’re very proud to have helped hundreds of grassroots acts reach wider audiences over the 20 years of Moseley Folk and Arts Festival.”

John Fell, Moseley Folk’s Festival Manager, added: “Janice was a great advocate for new music as well as a great friend of the festival. The award feels like a fitting way to honour her legacy.”

Discussing playing the festival in 2024 and 2025, previous Hello You! recipient Bobby West, from Liverpool, said: “What stood out for me more than anything was the enormous amount of warmth from both the staff and the audience, on both occasions. I’ve never been treated so well or listened to and appreciated as an artist as I did from the people at Moseley Folk, so thank yea kindly for that – I shan’t forget it.”

Moseley Folk and Arts Festival returns from Friday 4th-Sunday 6th September 2026 with appearances from Kingfishr, Super Furry Animals, The Dead South, Frank Turner, The Wonder Stuff, Big Special, Damien Dempsey and Katherine Priddy. This year marks the event’s 20th edition.