Michael G Moore at Live and Unsigned
Michael G Moore, one of our featured bands recently performed at Live and Unsigned, check out his video here:
Find out more about Michael on his page: Michael G Moore
The Making of a Star: open mic competition on Sky
An exclusive fly-on-the-wall series on the Open Mic UK competition is coming to Sky TV! From the competition that found Birdy and Hatty Keane, Open Mic UK brings you; The Making of a Star! A two-part series will be broadcast on Sky on Sunday 8th & 15th January.
We go behind the glitz and glamour of the music industry and follow emerging acts as they aim for stardom. This raw insight into what it takes to be a star will follow the drama and real life situations of the competition, as each act fights for survival on the road to the Grand Final of the competition at The O2 in London.
We will be there to see dreams coming true and to witness the pain of failure. With a live final at The O2, a recording contract, and celebrity judges, there’s a lot to play for. Whether it’s backstage tussles, pushy parents or acts going AWOL, the shows never go completely to plan!
The Making of a Star follows the dramas and divas involved in one of the UK’s biggest unsigned music competitions. It’s Airline and Pineapple Studios stirred with the high stakes of The X Factor and all the real life unpredictability of The Apprentice.
Open Mic UK founder Chris Grayston says viewers can expect the unexpected; “The Open Mic UK shows really can range from the sublime to the ridiculous, and that’s just on stage! Backstage can be just as entertaining with the Open Mic UK staff trying to coordinate hundreds of wannabe pop stars.”
Previous winner Birdy, still at only 15 years of age, is now a favourite on Radio 1 after signing with Warner Music. The songstress has had a top twenty album and two hits singles already to date including her version of the Bon Iver classic “Skinny Love.”
Last year’s under 18’s winner, Hatty Keane, has also had huge success after being signed to BGM. Since being crowned the overall runner up of the competition last year, Hatty has performed live sets alongside Tinchy Stryder, Zane Lowe, Tempa T and Roll Deep and is set to support Ed Sheeran and Wretch 32 later this month.
The Making of a Star comes to Sky 201 in the New Year, with a longer series planned for later in the year for the prestigious Live and Unsigned competition.
Watch SKY 201
And freesat 403
Sunday 8th & 15th January 9pmFor more information about Open Mic UK go to www.OpenMicUK.co.uk
Wickerman Festival Music Competition
The Wickerman Festival are launching an incredible competition for an unsigned act who will not only get to open the main stage but also create the soundtrack for a TV advert.
The Solway Coast’s family-friendly music weekend has been headlined by KT Tunstall, Gary Numan, The Zutons and The Human League.
It is most famous for it’s stunning climax every year when organisers burn a Wicker Man. The festival name was inspired by the 1973 Scottish horror film The Wicker Man, which starred Edward Woodward and was filmed in Dumfries and Galloway in South West Scotland.
Now someone who has been to the festival as a music fan in previous years could, in 2010, be playing at it.
Festival Director Sid Ambrose said “Dreams are not impossible. This is a brilliant chance for any unsigned act that can create an original piece of music.
“Not only will they get to hear their soundtrack on TV but they’ll also win the chance to support some big name acts.”
The Razz has always been a massive supporter of new Scottish talent. Each week two unsigned acts are featured on our Soundcheck spot at the bottom of this page.
We have given literally hundreds of young Scots acts their first national press and in some cases, such as Glasvegas, Frightened Rabbit and Unicorn Kid, their very first reviews.
The Wickerman competition will give unsigned acts an ever better leg up – a chance to play at a major Scottish festival on the main stage and get their music heard on the television.
The competition has been inspired by the success of previously unknown performers such as Les Rythmes Digitales who found fame through the Citroen C4 dancing robot advert.
Sid said: “We are looking for a piece of original music that sums up the atmosphere of the festival. Maybe one of the band has been to the Wickerman and knows about how quirky and family friendly it is.
“Or acts could look at our website and get a feel for the festival and compose music about what the festival is all about.”
Wickerman has a reputation for giving many of Scotland’s future stars the experience of playing alongside famous faces and iconic names.
Last year up-and-coming bands like Mr Kil, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Pearl and the Puppets and Punch and the Apostles all played.
Bands hoping to record the music for the TV advert and play on the main stage should be from Scotland or the north of England. As for the music, Sid reckons anything goes.
He said: “The festival caters for a very wide range of music, from rock and ska to country western, and world music to dance.
“The competition is open to any unsigned act doing any kind of music as long as they can create a tune that for us sums up what the Wickerman is all about.”
The closing date for the competition is March 15.
This year’s festival takes place near Kirkcudbright on July 23 and 24.
For details on how to enter the competition log on to www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk
