In the wake of this years X Factor, we can't help but feel that original musicians in the UK must be getting a tad frustrated. Sure the show is entertaining (perhaps in the wrong way) but it doesn't offer anything for original, unsigned artists. This years winner Joe was practically moulded into a popstar before our eyes and given great cover tunes to belt out in an attempt to score a number one at Christmas - but none of this was original. Sure he worked hard to make it through boot camp, but he, like so many others, seems to be lacking uniqueness.

Following all the controversy of the RTM campaign this year, it's obvious that it's not just musicians across the UK who are rebelling and crying out for something new. So what's out there that offers something fresh and different?

QUEUE Live and Unsigned 2010 - a Christmas gift come early for unsigned bands and singers. Simon Cowell’s cheesy grin, relentless sob stories and excessive cover versions of pop classics will be no where in sight as Live and Unsigned takes to the road in the New Year. That’s because this competition is completely different from the X Factor and its predecessors – it promotes unsigned and original musicians in the UK.

 

Auditions kick off in the first week of January and will be taking place all over the country. Heading up the judging panel for 2010 is none other than former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren. Describing one former act as “dysfunctional, impossible to define and wonderful” and another as a “post karaoke act that cuts up all of those groups’ Best Ofs”, it’s clear to see the music mogul is eagerly anticipating what 2010 will bring. Commenting on the industry today, McLaren also notes the importance of originality “Most artists spend their lives trying to authenticate (or make true) today’s karaoke culture, but you have to be a magician to do that. Karaoke is mouthing other people’s songs: it is life by proxy.” Set to join him on the panel is Annie Nightingale, Radio 1’s unsigned expert Huw Stephens and popular performer Just Jack.

Now in its third year, L&U is the biggest original music competition in the UK, with over 30,000 acts gracing the audition rooms in the last three years. The competition is all about promoting and supporting unsigned original talent. After the initial audition stage, the successful acts are chosen to perform at the Regional Finals in front of a live audience and judging panel and the Grand Finalists will go on to perform on the main stage of the Live and Unsigned Festival at the 02 in London!

 

The 02 is recognised as the most prestigious venue in the country for bands and artists to perform live and will boast an impressive line up at the L&U Festival in the capital next summer. The venue has seen some of the world’s most successful musicians and acts take to the stage, including U2, Take That and Muse - and in 2010 it could be you!

 

Live and Unsigned does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s open to every unsigned act in the country regardless of genre and there are no demos or submissions – all artists are auditioned live. The winner will take home a management and recording contract to release their single.

 

For more information about Live and Unsigned go to the website www.liveandunsigned.uk.com

 

 

So we're finally here - in less than four weeks the Live and Unsigned crew will be revving their engines on the startling line and will be touring the UK with live auditions in the search for the ultimate unsigned act! We'll be visiting over 13 regions in the bid to find some of the best unsigned talent and to find the act that whizzes past the finishing line, the winner of Live and Unsigned 2010.

Live and Unsigned is now in its third year - and 2010 will see some fantastic new prizes and give aways - if you're in an unsigned band or you're a singer, enter now on the website! The competition is open to all genres, whether it be Rock and Heavy Metal or Indie and RnB, as long as you have an original song to bring to the stage then Live and Unsigned is for you!

This year the competition has partnered with some fantastic companies including Marshall and ICMP. As well as a prize pool brimming with stuff to win, grand finalists will also get to to take to the stage at the 02 in London and perform at the Live and Unsigned Festival! And those who don't? Well you'll still get to perform in some of the UK's most prestigious venues to capacity crowds, meet industry insiders and A&R and develop your live music.

January 9th is when it all begins, for more information and audition dates and venues visit the website www.liveandunsigned.uk.com

Audition spots are limited!

See you in 2010,

The L&U Team

Hello everyone,

Live and Unsigned 2010 auditions are fast approaching, kicking off in January and travelling all over the UK in the search for the country's ultimate unsigned act! Everyone here is eagerly anticipating the competition - including one of the Live and Unsigned judges and former Sex Pistols Manager Malcolm McLaren. Take a look at the exclusive preview...

 

Malcolm McLaren talks Live and Unsigned!

 

 

 

Live and Unsigned, the UK’s biggest original music competition for unsigned bands and singers, is returning in the new year and is set to to rock the UK. The competition travels all over the country in a bid to find the UK’s next break through recording artist and, of course, the ultimate unsigned act, with the overall winner being offered a two year management and recording contract.

 

Open to all genres, Live and Unsigned promotes and supports all types of musicians – from Rock and Heavy Metal to Indie Pop and RnB, and this versatility could have something to do with the competition’s huge popularity. Over 30, 000 acts have auditioned live in front of the judging panel in its three years on the road.

 

This year’s auditions are set to kick off in January 2010, and one man who knows all about the rock and roll world of music is eagerly awaiting its return. Former Sex Pistols Manager and notoriously outspoken, Malcolm McLaren is returning to the Live and Unsigned Judging Panel in 2010, hoping to find that diamond in the rough who could be polished into the UK’s next big thing. When talking about his experience of the competition last year, McLaren is full of excitement. Describing one former act as “dysfunctional, impossible to define and wonderful” and another as a “post karaoke act that cuts up all of those groups’ Best Ofs”, it’s clear to see the music mogul is eagerly anticipating what 2010 will bring.

 

Describing his journey to the 2009 Grand Final, McLaren notes the vast differences in acts today and warns the dangers of imitating someone else’s craft,

“Two words sum up today’s culture: “authenticity” is one, and the other is, well… “karaoke”. Most artists spend their lives trying to authenticate (or make true) today’s karaoke culture, but you have to be a magician to do that. Karaoke is mouthing other people’s songs: it is life by proxy, liberated by hindsight and unencumbered by the messy process of creativity. Everything and everyone in a karaoke world is for sale, and so successful are its TV shows – Pop Idol, The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent – that I am racing to judge a talent contest, Live and Unsigned. I am on a mission: I have this undeniable thirst for something authentic.”

 

As McLaren touches on, Live and Unsigned is truly unique. The competition promotes live and original auditions (there are no demos or recordings), offers participants the opportunity to perform in some of the UK’s most prestigious venues and the Grand Finalists go on to perform at the Live and Unsigned Festival – sharing the stage with some of the UK’s most influential musicians.

 

And Impresario McLaren seems eager for its return and gives us a taste of what judging last years final was like,

“Surrounded by talent scouts and DJ’s, I am told that 10, 000 acts across the UK have entered this competition: the names on the paper in front of me are the finalists. The panel has to award marks out of 20, according to look, originality and performance. The bands thunder forth like horses at the Grand National…”

 

Live and Unsigned Events Director Chris Grayston adds,

“This last year has seen Live and Unsigned explode and it’s set to be even bigger and better in 2010. The involvement of some fantastic industry names and judges, an increased prize pool for winners, a UK winner’s tour and a National sponsor courtesy of Marshall Amplification will mean we’re in for a great competition. The Grand Final at the Live and Unsigned Festival is something new and exciting and will give acts the opportunity to perform alongside some of the UK’s best musicians. We can’t wait for the 2010 competition to begin!”

 

McLaren will be joined by a host of other celebrity judges and industry insiders for Live and Unsigned 2010, including Radio 1’s Annie Nightingale. Auditions for 2010 are in high demand and are limited. For more information and to register for an audition visit the website www.liveandunsigned.uk.com

Auditions for Live and Unsigned 2010 are about to kick off! Beginning in January, auditions will be travelling all over the country in a bid to find the UK's next break through artist! Open to all genres the competition literally has something for everyone! Whether you're in a Rock/Heavy Metal, Indie Pop, Electro, Acoustic or Rnb Group - Live and Unsigned is the competition for you!

The acts that make it through to the live shows will have the opportunity to perform in some of the country's most prestigious venues, with the Grand Final set to take place at the Live and Unsigned Festival 2010.

For more information and to register for an audition go to the website www.liveandunsigned.uk.com

See you at the auditions!
The L&U Team 2010