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Open Mic 2012 Audition Dates Announced
The audition dates for this year’s Open Mic UK competition have been announced, and with over 9,000 entrants last year, the 2012 competition is set to be the biggest yet! Auditions are set to take place across the country during August and September.
Open Mic UK is the largest national music competition for singers and solo artists in the UK. The competition travels across the country every year in search of the UK's best singers, singer/songwriters, rappers and vocalists, and is open to all genres, so whether you’re into R’n’B, Rap, Acoustic, Pop or Classical – Open Mic UK has it all! Acts can perform either covers or original material and they’ll be invited to a live audition in front of the judging panel.
Those who make it through the audition stage will go on to perform across the UK in live showcases complete with an audience and judging panel and will aim to progress to compete at the Grand National Final at The O2 in London! The panel is made up of music industry specialists, A&R, vocal coaches and guest celebrities. Gracing the judging panel in previous years has been Radio 1 DJ’s Annie Nightingale and Ras Kwame, Another Level star Dane Bowers, R’n’B sensation and double Mobo award winner Shola Ama, and Choice FM presenter E Plus who are hopefully set to make another appearance for the 2012 competition!
Acts who make it through to the live showcases will get to take to the stage at some of the UK’s most prestigious venues including Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sheffield City Hall, Birmingham’s LG Arena and Portsmouth Guildhall, following in the footsteps of famous acts such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Katy Perry. These fantastic venues all lead up to acts playing the Grand Final at the UK’s most recognised live music venue, The O2 in London.
There are plenty of opportunities to win prizes throughout the competition with over £50,000 worth of prizes up for grabs; including a new main prize of £5,000 cash to the overall winner, £2,500 to the runner up and the remaining age category winners will receive £1,000! The winning act will be crowned in front of a packed out crowd at The O2 in London!
Open Mic UK has a great pedigree for success with last year’s category winner, Hatty Keane’s career going from strength to the strength. The teen sensation signed with BGM soon after the competition, and 2011 saw her release her EP and tour with Ed Sheeran and Wretch 32! Previous competition winner Birdy saw incredible chart success with her version of Bon Iver’s ‘Skinny Love’, and her self-titled 2011 album ‘Birdy’ received great critical acclaim.
The Open Mic UK competition is divided into age categories; Under 16, 17-22, and 23 and over. All types of singers, vocal performers, groups and acoustic singer/songwriters are invited to enter Open Mic UK. It’s all about finding an act that has the ability to become a professional recording artist.
So, if you think you’ve got what it takes, get on the mic for Open Mic UK 2012! Full details can be found on the Open Mic website at – link