Local talent wanted (From This Is Wiltshire)

Local talent wanted

11:57am Friday 26th February 2010 in

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Where are the unsigned bands of west and north Wiltshire?

Promoter Jack Daniels, the organiser of this year’s Village Pump unsigned bands competition P.U.M.P. @ the Pump, is hoping more of them will put in entries for the 2010 contest, which he has just launched, than tried their hands last year.

The competition offers eight unsigned bands the chance to appear live at this year’s Village Pump Festival in July, with a solo spot this year for the winner and a place on the full programme for next year on offer.

Last year it was won by Katy Boyd and Benny Wain, who have since signed with a record label and will have played dates in America before this year’s Stowford festival, which runs from July 22 to July 25.

“We thought it was quite odd that we did not get many applications from Wiltshire last year. Maybe they think Stowford and the Village Pump is all about folk, but it’s not,” said Jack.

“There are always all types of music there and this competition is just looking for good quality unsigned acts. We had about 100 applications last year. Last year in the final eight we had all sorts, including a singer and a guy doing very electronic stuff.

“Some of the old folkies might have got a bit of a shock but we just feel we want to find a great unsigned band whatever their style of music.

“Katy Boyd and Benny Wain have had a good year since they won, and it’ll be great to hear them again this summer.”

The competition is also helping the Village Pump’s favourite charity, as all of the £10 entry fee will go to Dorothy House Hospice Care at Winsley.

Entering couldn’t be simpler: just go to the festival website at http://www.trowbridgefestival.co.uk/unsignedActs.asp, download and fill in an application form and send a £10 cheque payable to Dorothy House Hospice along with your CD/DVD or youtube/myspace links.

All submissions will be listened to by a panel of musicians and promoters, including Jack Daniels, and whittled down to a shortlist of 16 to 20 acts.

From that another panel, including festival mastermind Christine Briars, will choose the best eight, who will be invited to perform one number on Friday night at this summer’s festival in front of an esteemed panel of judges.

“I can’t say who they are but they will certainly include one top flight musician – Steve Knightley of Show of Hands was on the panel last year,” Jack said.

“I’d advise people not to put more than one or two tracks on their initial entry, because we won’t have time to listen to more than that.”

The winner will go straight on to perform up to three numbers on one of the stages during the festival weekend, and the winning act is guaranteed a full gig at Trowbridge 2011 on one of the main stages.

Last year’s winners Katy Boyd and Benny Wain will open this year’s P.U.M.P. competition and also be performing live on the folk/acoustic stage. Applications must be in by June 1.