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Stafford Raw Talent Festival

Posted on Thursday 12th May 2011 by

Local bands could win a record deal at this year’s Raw Talent music competition.

The grand prizes have just been announced – including the chance to record an EP with Stafford label Assorted Records.

Assorted Records will work with the overall Raw Talent winners to help promote their music, with a professional photo shoot and the chance to support an established artist as part of the prize. A special website for the winning act will be set up and run for a year by the label.

All the Raw Talent audition finalists will get to play live in the centre of Stafford on July 2 as part of the Stafford Festival.

But bands, singers, rappers and MCs only have a few days left to enter to be in with a chance of winning.

There are several categories in the competition, including best band, best singer, best singer/songwriter and best rapper/MC.

An overall winner will be chosen to receive the top prize, whilst category winners will be offered a day of recording at Ingestre Recording Studio.

Auditions for Raw Talent will be held in the MET Studio of Stafford’s Gatehouse Theatre, with singing, rapping and MCing auditions from 1pm on Saturday, May 21 and band auditions from 6pm on Monday, May 23.

Each act will get 15 minutes to impress the judging panel, made up of leisure and music professionals, to be in with a chance of performing in the Market Square on July 2. The judging panel will also decide the eventual overall winner.

Musicians and singers wishing to enter must be aged between 13 and 21, live within Stafford borough, and need to register to audition before May 21.

Liz Hulse, events manager for Stafford Borough Council, said: “Raw Talent is a great way for local bands to get more publicity, and have the chance of playing in the centre of town during the busy Festival.

“We’d love to uncover some stars of the future, but we won’t know what talent you’ve got unless you enter the competition.

“With a range of great prizes on offer, including a professional recording session, there’s every reason to get involved and show everyone in Stafford that you’ve got Raw Talent.”

To register for the auditions, email events@staffordbc.gov.uk, call 01785 619 300 or visit www.staffordbc.gov.uk/staffordfestival

Raw Talent is part of the Stafford Festival, which will also feature the Party in the Park on July 3, a Street Theatre Extravaganza on July 9 and Live @ The Castle, with a mix of music from live bands, on July 10.