Battle of the Bands is launched

Unsigned bands from Shropshire and Mid Wales are today being given the chance to win a staggering £5,000 worth of prizes in the Shropshire Star's Battle of the Bands competition.

The event is open to bands from across the newspaper's circulation area and bands could win state of the art equipment, a pa, studio time, a photo shoot, 100 demos and expert advice from mentors.

There will also be the chance to play live at one of the region's top venues, The Buttermarket, in Shrewsbury.

And all Shropshire Star readers will get the chance to vote for their favourite act from March, at a special online poll at www.shropshirestar.co.uk

The competition is being run in conjunction with Salop Music Centre, in St Michaels Street, Shrewsbury, which is providing more than £3,000 worth of band equipment.

The Buttermarket, at Shrewsbury, which will host two gigs in March; Shropshire-based Wolf At Your Door Records will provide 100 demo discs and industry advice from expert mentors and Soundscape Studios will provide four hours' studio time, so that our winner can record new songs.

Today competition spokesman James Shaw, from the Shropshire Star, said: "We want to find the best unsigned bands from across Shropshire and Mid Wales.

"There is no age limit and the competition is open to people who play all different kinds of music. The Battle of the Bands is about discovering the best music in Shropshire and Mid Wales."

The competition will run for two months and bands will have until March 9 to submit their entries.

Bands should send music, videos, photographs and biographies to: James Shaw, Shropshire Star, Waterloo Road, Ketley, Telford, TF1.

Readers will be able to vote and help select the five bands who will compete in our finals night at The Buttermarket, in Shrewsbury, on March 30.

Votes can be cast after March 9 from a special online link at www.shropshirestar.co.uk The five bands who don't make it to the final will play a Best Of The Rest night at The Buttermarket, on March 23.

Bands will be featured by Telford FM dj Paul Shuttleworth on his unsigned bands programme. The winners will also receive a guaranteed photo shoot with a professional Shropshire Star photographer.

The competition will run for two months and bands will have until March 9 to submit their entries.

Competition sponsors:

Shropshire Music Centre - the main sponsors, offering £3,000 of band equipment www.salopmusic.co.uk

A Wolf at Your Door Records - offering 100 demo discs and advice www.wolfatyourdoor.com

Soundscape Studios - offering four hours studio time http://soundscape-studios.co.uk

The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury - venue for the Battle Of The Bands finals www.buttermarket.com