News

Futuresound Want You To Play Reading And Leeds

• 13th May 2010

Summer is just around the corner and that can only mean one thing for West Yorkshire bands – The Futuresound Competition and your shot to play at Leeds and Reading Festivals!

This is the tenth year for the biggest battle of the bands in Yorkshire and the competition increases as this time as The Cockpit will host four bands per heat instead of three, giving a total of 40 bands the opportunity to take centre stage and win a money-can’t-buy prize of a lifetime!

Futuresound are looking for local acts to take part in the annual competition which showcases the best of local talent in a battle of the bands style competition to win a slot at the Leeds and Reading Festival this year. The overall winner will play on the Festival Republic Stage at both Leeds and Reading Festivals which has previously seen the likes of Kasabian, Bloc Party & the Arctic Monkeys take to the stage, as well as a £500 cash prize. Five runners up will also get the opportunity to play at both festivals on the BBC Introducing Stage.

The Pigeon Detectives, Wild Beasts, Pulled Apart By Horses, The Kaiser Chiefs and The Sunshine Underground are just some of the bands making the nation stand up and take note that Leeds is the place to be for music. Promoters at The Cockpit and Futuresound have recognised the talent in the region and this competition is the opportunity for local bands to get noticed.

Futuresound promoter Andy Smith says: “We are aware that the city has loads more top acts to offer and we’re excited to see which bands come through. This competition is a great opportunity which is often the stepping stone to bigger things. Last year we saw a huge amount of top quality entrants with the likes of Middleman, Wonderswan and Chickenhawk coming in the top six acts and hopefully this year will prove to be even better.”

Futuresound are encouraging bands from the wider region such as Harrogate and York to also take part, Andy explains: “This isn’t just about Leeds; we want to celebrate the talent in the whole of West Yorkshire and we know it’s out there.”

Bands are now welcome to apply to take part by downloading an application form from link. Bands wishing to participate must fill in the application form including a Myspace.com link and two nominated tracks (CD entrants will not be accepted). The competition will take place at The Cockpit on 10 dates running from the end of June and over the course of July featuring for the first time ever a four band line-up each night.

Each gig will be judged by a live audience vote, as all heats are open to the public, as well as three judges from within the Leeds music industry. The deadline for entries is Friday 4th June.

Full details about the competition, conditions of entry and application forms can be found at link.