Local talent shines in the UK's biggest original music competition

Helena Starz from Hull has wowed the judging panel of the UK's biggest original music competition and sailed through the audition stage of Live and Unsigned. Helena will be competing against the most talented bands and artists in the country at the Regional Final showcase of Live and Unsigned 2011 £ all in a bid to be signed! Helena battled against hundreds of auditionees to secure a spot in the live shows and now has the opportunity to prove that they are the best in the region. Acts that made it through auditions will now take part in a live Regional Final Showcase in front of thousands of spectators and a professional judging panel, including judges from Kerrang, NME Radio and Radio One.

The best auditionees from their Regional Final Showcase also get the opportunity to play support slots with a selection of major headlining acts.

Live and Unsigned is the biggest original music competition in the UK for unsigned bands and artists. Attracting over 50,000 entries in the past five years, it has set itself apart from its predecessors by offering and promoting originality.

It's now established as the definitive music competition for original acts and it's open to all genres of music from Heavy Rock to Rap. Chris Grayston, Events Director of Live & Unsigned said: 'Live and Unsigned is all about originality, live ability and credibility. We don't accept demos or submissions and everyone auditions live. We've got some fantastic prizes up for grabs this year in a £100, 000 prize pool, so there are lots of opportunities for everyone entering. Plus the Live and Unsigned Festival means 2011 will be the biggest competition yet!'

All the acts in the competition are battling it out for the chance to play at the Live and Unsigned Festival at the 02 in London! The overall winner of the competition is offered a recording and management contract with Future Music with an investment of up to £50, 000. The winners will be crowned the UK's best unsigned act in front of a capacity crowd on the main stage of the festival. A&R and celebrity judges involved this year include former Slade front man Noddy Holder, R'n'B star Shola Ama and Radio 1's Annie Nightingale, Ras Kwame and Tom Deacon.

Acts will be competing for main prizes which include; a management contract with Future Music, a World Tour taking in four continents including Australasia, Asia, America and Europe, an all expenses paid trip to Italy and a slot at Europe's leading music festival courtesy of Tour Music Fest. The winning band will receive an all expenses paid trip to India, play in a global face off and have the chance to win from $50,000 in prizes!

Live and Unsigned has partnered with musician's website Music Radar to offer a comprehensive winners prize pool. Acts will have the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes including support slots for some major headline acts, state-of-the-art blackstar amps, development through recording studio time in some of the UK's finest studios and courses with the Institute.

Previous winners of the competition include Kiddo 360 who went on to pick up a Vodafone Live Award, B-Kay and Kazz who broke into the top 30 charts and last year's winners were The Lottery Winners and Underline the Sky who also won the Road to V.

The winners of 2011 will be thrust into the media spotlight through television, radio and the press and will have the opportunity to go on a world tour. One contestant who has caught the eye of Judges this year is local talent Helena Starz, now competing in the Regional Final, after making it through the auditions beating hundreds of other hopefuls. Helena is now preparing for the Regional Final Showcase on 27th March 2010 at Dewsbury Town Hall for the opportunity to progress towards the Live and Unsigned festival at the O2 in London.

For more information go to the website www.LiveandUnsigned.UK.com . Or better still come down and support your local talent; you can purchase tickets from the website.

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