Live Music in the South – Southern England Area Final Results

The best live music the South has to offer came to Portsmouth this weekend as unsigned acts and bands took to the stage at the Portsmouth Guildhall for the last Area Final of Live and Unsigned 2011.

The Southern England Area Final brought together the best unsigned acts from the South in a bid to make it to the National Grand Final at Live Fest. The winners are now off to the O2 on the 23rd July to play in the final for the chance to take the title of Best Live and Unsigned Act 2011.

Live Music Comes To The South

Judges presiding over the Southern England Area Final music talent showcase included; A&R for Future Music Benjamin Price, Radio One’s Tom Deacon, Gareth Henderson Director of Riverside, Rosalind Fountain International singer and Vocal Coach, Lucy Soal Organiser of Butserfest, Matt Hooper presenter from The Coast FM, Chris Grayston, Head of A&R at Future Music and Darren Ashford drummer from the Dub Pistols and Black Eyed Peas.

The headline act taking to the stage alongside Live and Unsigned Area Finalists in Portsmouth was hip hop star Fdot1.  Also performing was singer/songwriter Danica Hunter who treated the crowd to her unique and captivating voice.

Judges presiding over the Southern England Area Final included; Benjamin Price, Future Music A&R, Tom Deacon from Radio One, Gareth Henderson Director of Riverside, Vocal Coach Rosalind Fountain, Butserfest Organiser Lucy Soal, Matt Hooper from Coast FM, Darren Ashford, professional drummer who has worked with Black Eyed Peas among others and Chris Grayston, Head of A&R at Future Music.

With so much live music talent in the South, it was difficult for the judges to make a decision and the successful acts that are through to the National Grand Final are listed below. Congratulations to those that made it through to National Grand Final at Live Fest in London’s O2 on the 23rd July.

Southern  England Area Final Results

The Dirty Tricks

The Fringe

Ten Zero One

New Royalty

Ellie Campbell

JAG

Gweido

Slick Minded Individuals

Shirin

Blackstar Exposure Award– There will be an award for the act with the largest quantity and best qualityof submitted publicity material in relation to the competition. The act with the most press cuttings or recorded radio interviews on each Areal Final day will win a prize. As the winner of the Southern England Area Final was a band, they will win a free Blackstar HT-5 half stack amplifier with head and cab (approx value £400). This goes to; Six Shooter

TC Electronic Exposure Award – This award is given to the act that achieves (what will be considered) the most ‘high profile’ publicity material and/or stunt in each Area final day. The overall winner in each Area will win a prize. As the winner is a band they will win a TC Electronic BG500 combo Bass Amp (approx value £540). The winner of the award for the Southern England Area Final is; The Fringe

Festival Partner Awards - Butserfest Organiser Lucy Soal, judged the Southern England Area Finals in Portsmouth and was so impressed with the talent that she has chosen The Dirty Tricks, The Fringe and This Way Up to play live music at the festival. Butserfest takes place on Saturday 17th September 2011 at Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire and we wish the selected artists the best of luck.

For those acts who didn’t get through to the Grand Finals, don’t forget to use your Wildcard! All acts have been given a Wildcard in the form of a national public vote. There is just one place up for grabs and just two weeks to make your mark, so keep an eye out on the website and get voting for one of those last National Grand Final spots!

For information on the Grand Final and to purchase tickets visit the Live and Unsigned Live fest page. Or for further details of guest acts playing London’s biggest indoor festival “Live Fest” incorporating the National Grand Final visit www.LiveFest.co.uk