Auction dates announced for this year’s Open Mic UK

Dates for this year’s Open Mic UK singing competition have been announced, and with over 9,000 entrants last year, the 2013 competition is set to be the biggest yet! The search for the UK’s best singers, singer-songwriters, rappers and vocalists starts this August!

Open Mic UK is one of the largest national music competitions for singers and solo artists in the UK and is brought to you by Future Music, who’ve helped develop such acts as; Birdy, Jahmene Douglas and Lucy Spraggan.

FOR A LIST OF AUDITION VENUES GO TO: www.openmicuk.co.uk/singing-auditions

Those who make it through auditions will go on to perform in live showcases in front of a professional judging panel and packed out audience in some of the UK’s most prestigious live music venues. Acts talented enough to reach the Grand Final will perform within the UK’s most recognised live music venue, The O2 in London. 

Events coordinator Chris Grayston can’t wait to see the class of 2013, “every year the bar is raised and the quality gets higher and higher, we’re really looking forward to seeing fresh talent from across the country. This is a great chance to let the country see your talent.”

Judging panels are made up of music industry specialists, AandR, vocal coaches and guest celebrities. Gracing the judging panel in previous years have been BBC Radio DJ’s Annie Nightingale and Ras Kwame, Kiss FM’s Charlie Hedges and Mark Hill, an Ivor Novello award winner. All are hopefully set to make another appearance for the 2013 competition!

There are plenty of opportunities for acts that enter Open Mic UK to win prizes throughout the competition with over £50,000 worth of prizes up for grabs, including recording studio time and music development classes, plus a main prize of £5,000 cash to the overall winner! The winning act will be crowned in front of a packed out crowd within The O2 in London!

Along the way to playing within The O2 acts get the chance to play in some of the most prestigious live music venues across the country including the Birmingham NEC, Sheffield City Hall and the Portsmouth Guildhall.

All ages are welcome to enter as Open Mic UK  is divided into age categories; Under 16, 16-20, and 21 and over. It’s all about finding an act that has the ability to become a professional recording artist, be it singers, vocal performers, groups or acoustic singer/songwriters.

Previous winner Birdy continues to go from strength-to-strength having been signed to Warner Music. Since winning Open Mic UK aged 12, Birdy has had number one records in France, Holland, Belgium and Australia and enjoyed a UK top 20 hit with her spine-tingling version of Bon Iver’s Skinny Love.

So, if you think you’ve got what it takes to follow in her footsteps, enter now and get on the mic for Open Mic UK 2013