Local music acts make area final of Live and Unsigned

TWO local music acts have made it through to the area final of a competition to win £20,000 to help release their single.

The IC1's, a five-member band from Ruislip, Eastcote and Harrow, and Me and the Beast, a duo from Eastcote and Maidenhead, will both be competing at the Beck Theatre, in Grange Road, Hayes, on May 3 for a place in the national final.

The Live and Unsigned competition is the UK's national music competition for unsigned acts to compete live. With over 10,000 registrations for the second year running, it is the biggest music talent search for original acts in the UK.

The IC1's describe themselves as an Indie rock band with a bit of Brit pop and they played their first gig in an Oxford Street bar in September last year.

Member Robin Hayes, 27, of Flamborough Road, Ruislip Manor, said: "We don't compare ourselves to any other acts out there because we have got our own individual style."

Me and The Beast are an electro pop duo who have been performing together since October last year.

Carly Cunningham, 25, of Woodlands Avenue, Eastcote, is the lead singer of the duo and Ashley Bull is the producer/song writer.

He said: "We have been compared to Depeche Mode and Duran Duran but Carly's vocals are really uplifting and she has been compared to Kate Bush and Bjork.

"If we won the competition we would like to put the £20,000 purely into publicity."

Go to www.meandthebeast.com to find out more about the duo or for more information on how to audition for next years competition or to book tickets for the area final visit www.LiveandUnsigned.UK.com.