Unsigned talents can battle it out in nationwide contest

Audiences were warmed-up to the live music contest by performances by Leamington bands Damn Good Thieves, Dirty Fair and The Rushmore at the gig, which will be followed up by similar gigs at other venues around the town over the coming months.

Run by the Leamington-based European music festival specialists eufest, All About The Music is a nation-wide talent competition searching for the best unsigned bands and musicians.

In a ‘battle of the bands’ style series of events, talents will be selected to move on to each round, culminating in a national live final on May 2, at which five finalists will battle it out to win an expenses-paid trip to Croatia to play at INmusic festival at the Island of Youth at Lake Jarun in Zagreb in June.

Last year’s winners, the Nottinghamshire-based Roger the Mascot, opened on the main stage for the Arctic Monkeys and were offered a record deal as a result. The band, which only formed in 2012, enjoyed the experience so much that they are returning to INmusic this year to play again.

Any unsigned bands or solo artists who write and perform their own material can enter (DJs are not eligible but there are plans for a separate competition for DJs). The deadline for registration is March 14. To register, visit www.weareaatm.com

For news and information about upcoming gigs, visit the competition’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/weareaatm

To find out more about INmusic - headliners of which this year include The Black Keys, Pixies and The Fratellis, visit www.inmusicfestival.com