13-year-old Aimé
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A host of hot hopefuls battle it out
By Maria VirtoApril 01, 2009
THE tension mounts as this year’s Live and Unsigned Competition regional finals take place at the Princes Hall in Aldershot on Sunday, April 5.
A HOST of hopeful musicians from the area will be battling it out to win a place in the next round, performing in front of hundreds of audience members and a professional judging panel.
The event is not just a competition, but also a showcase of local talent and a chance to support your favourite.
At only 13 years of age, Aimée from Liphook already has quite a local following and has been given the big thumbs up by judges at the Live and Unsigned auditions. Despite her young age, Aimée is already an experience musician. She has been playing the guitar, and writing and performing her own compositions for about five years.
She is a regular of the local acoustic circuit and her act has been likened to those of Kirsty MacColl, Avril Lavigne, Suzanne Vega and Alanis Morissette.
Other contestants from the area include Charlene Huskinson, hailing from Chertsey, plus The Burning Books and Hotshed from Guildford.
Then there’s According to Her, a female-fronted pop/rock band from Bookham. Combining catchy choruses with a memorable stage presence, this five piece are not to be missed.
The band has been performing live for around two years, creating a diverse fanbase that is increasing in size with every gig played. Notable venues so far include the London Dry Bar, the Kingston Peel, The Boileroom in Guildford, Dorking Halls, the Purple Turtle in Camden, and the Vic Inn in Derby.
The band’s tracks have also been played on various different student radio stations across the UK.
Their latest airplay time was when they took over the waves for a whole hour in Radio 1 Switch with Annie Mack and Nick Grimshaw, who chose them as their house band. According to Her got to introduce themselves with a jingle they had composed, were interviewed and clips of their music were played. If you missed it you can still access it on the band’s at www.accordingtoher.com until Saturday, April 4.
To see them live, what better date than the Live and Unsigned gig where they’ll be competing against the best of the region’s acts.
Live and Unsigned is the biggest music talent search for original acts in the UK. The acts taking part are commended for doing their own thing; being individual, original and performing their own genre and style.
Paul King, better known in the industry as the former manager of Tears for Fears, Julian Cope, Level 42, plus tour manager for Genesis, said: “We have found the competition is so effective for us to discover talented acts and bands and to place them in the music market place.
“We can really see those acts that have the commitment and fan base to be successful in the industry. And, for the acts involved, it is a great opportunity to develop, improve and impress.”
The competition has winners in categories of Indie, Urban, Pop/Acoustic and Metal, with the overall winner of the competition being offered a recording and management contract with Future Music with an investment of up to £20,000 to release their single.
The winners will be crowned the UK’s Best Live and Unsigned acts in front of a capacity crowd, including many record company A&R and other entertainment professionals from within the industry.
They will also be thrust into the media spotlight through television, radio and the press. Furthermore, all winners will all be invited on the UK Live and Unsigned Tour.
Last year’s winners, Kiddo 360, have already gone on to win an award at the Vodafone Live Awards in October last year, alongside the likes of The Ting Tings, Primal Scream and Kate Nash.
To book tickets to see the best of your region’s talent battle it out live, contact info@liveandunsigned.uk.com or contact one of the acts appearing in the show.
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