Local bands invited to sign up for Live and Unsigned 2012 (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Local bands invited to sign up for Live and Unsigned 2012

2:43pm Thursday 22nd December 2011 in Music

CALLING all local singers and bands!

The Live and Unsigned 2012 auditions start in January and the end prize offers the chance to play at London’s O2 arena. The competition has also just announced an additional new main cash prize of £10,000 for the winning act to spend on their development.

The auditions will call be in Portsmouth’s Highlight on Saturday, February 25. In addition, they will be filmed for a new fly-on-the-wall music series to be broadcast on Sky TV.

Live and Unsigned is the UK’s biggest unsigned music competition for original artists and auditions are open to all genres. Whether you're into pop, RnB, punk, indie, alternative, rock or acoustic, the competition has it all.

Each year the competition prize pool gets bigger and better as acts take to the stage and battle it out for equipment, festival slots, studio time and master classes. Other prizes up for grabs include a UK tour, a selection of Blackstar and TC Electronic amps, extensive coverage on MUZU TV and YouTube and a comprehensive consultation package with Future Music including social marketing, image, brand, access to industry contacts and much more.

All acts in the competition are auditioned live and there are no demo submissions. Acts that make it through will perform in front of industry judges, A&R associates and celebrity guests in some of the UK's most prestigious venues.

Those who make it to the grand final will get to share the stage with some of the UK's best musicians at Live Fest at The O2 in London. Acts on the bill last year included Tinchy Styder, Zane Lowe, Roll Deep and The Hoosiers.

Judges set to join the panel in 2012 include Radio 1 DJs Annie Nightingale, Tom Deacon and Daniel P Carter, Kerrang’s Alex Baker and Happy Mondays’ Bez.

Acts are urged to enter now as places are in high demand and auditions are limited for what will be a great platform for any act or band to showcase their music.

Further information is online now at liveandunsigned.uk.com.