TWO former Webster's High School pupils have sailed through the auditions for the UK's largest music competition for original artists, Live and Unsigned 2010, for which over 30,000 acts have auditioned over the last three years.
Keith Rodger and James Gow, both 23-years-old, comprise the newly-formed band A Midnight Mercer Fight which was entered to the competition by Keith's girlfriend Alison Fenton, who told the surprised duo in January that they had an audition the follow
ing month.
Keith, who is a former pupil of Southmuir Primary School, met James when they both attended Webster's High School. Now residing in Dundee, they each continued their studies at The University of Abertay Dundee and have continued their interest in music playing in bands over the years before forming A Midnight Mercer Fight four months ago.
Keith (lead vocals and acoustic guitar) and James (cajon) performed at the auditions on Saturday, February 6 at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and were required to prepare two minutes of an original song for the judges.
After only 1 minute 15 seconds into the audition the judges had reached their verdict and, of around 300 acts, A Midnight Mercer Fight was chosen as one of the 60 successful acts to go on to the regional finals.
Staged in the Strathclyde Suite at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Saturday, March 13, the regional finals see these acts return to perform and compete live in front of a capacity audience and judging panel.
The performance will be original with backing track and/or live support and acts are given 3 minutes 30 seconds to impress.
The contestants will be battling it out for the highest scores from the judge's marks and the audience votes to secure a place in the National Showcase Grand Final, at the O2 in London, which offers a number of prizes for regional winners as well as two fantastic main prizes for the overall winner of the competition.
The first is from Extreme, who will give the overall winner the chance to work with the Extreme Group and their clothing and licensing division Extreme State. The second is a management and recording contract with Future Music Management, with an investment of up to £30,000 to release a single.
According to the Live and Unsigned website: "The winning act will also have the opportunity to tour the UK, work on new material and record their debut video.
"The winners will be crowned the UK's best Live and Unsigned act and will be thrust into the media spotlight through television, radio and print media. Furthermore, the winners will be invited on the UK Live and Unsigned tour, which will expose their music to over 40,000 people.
"There are also plenty of other prizes up for grabs along the way too but it's not just the prizes on offer, it's the opportunities. The competition gives opportunities and exposure to all acts that enter.
"With its nationwide status and passion for live music, Live and Unsigned gives unsigned acts all over the country the opportunity to compete to be the UK's best."
For more information about A Midnight Mercer Fight and the competition, visit the websites (www.myspace.com/amidnightmercerfight) and (www.liveandunsigned.uk.com).
