Unsigned Music Feedback

Unsigned Music Feedback for bands and acts from the Live and Unsigned Grand Final Urban/Pop/Acoustic category. The best unsigned acts from across the UK took to the stage at London’s O2 to perform in front of a massive line up of music industry judges and fight it out to be named the top unsigned act in the UK.

Judges presiding over the Urban/Pop/Acoustic Grand Final included; Tom Deacon from Radio 1, Alex Baker who presents the unsigned show on Kerrang! Radio, Bez from Happy Mondays, Michael King who is the Head of BGM Music, Annika Allen who is the Editor in Chief of Flavour Magazine, Head of Future Music Chris Grayston and Head of A&R at Future Music Ben Price.

The competition was hot and all the acts set the bar extremely high, well done to all the acts for putting on an intense show! The judges saw some outstanding performances and had tough decisions to make! Congratulations to all acts that made it through to the National Grand Final at Live Fest in London’s O2.

Find below feedback for Urban/Pop/Acoustic category. Please be aware views expressed by Judges are opinions and subjective to that particular Judging panel. These views in no way reflect the views of Live and Unsigned, but are published with a view to being beneficial to the performing bands and singers who performed. So please take the feedback on board with a view to helping.

Music Industry Feedback

4Mula

Tom Deacon – Strong entrance. Set the tone for the final. Confident and assured.

Alex Baker – Strong and better than in the last round and I liked them.

Michael King – I like the girl, not the rapper.

Annika Allen – The rapper was good. You looked great. Loved the Glee twist. More energy and stage presence needed.

Chris Grayston – Performance was much better, it had impact. Interpretation of cover was great. Adapt lyrics to an original and it’d be awesome.

Ben Price - Look good together and good stage relationship. Hit one bum note, but generally good.

Andy Doonan

Tom Deacon – Real assured delivery. Looks very comfortable on stage. Reminded me of Bon Jovi.

Alex Baker – Sweet guy. Great voice.

Michael King – Good voice but heard it all before.

Annika Allen – You’re a good looking guy. I think you could do something more with your looks though. Nice performance.

Ben Price - Playing very basic needs to expand his chord range. Good fun act though.

Aggyfro

Tom Deacon – Worked well as an ensemble. Interesting clash of tunes delivered with panache.

Alex Baker – Love your smile, just needs tightening up.

Michael King – Need to get a clear sound and go for it. A bit messy.

Annika Allen – The combination you put together didn’t give much structure. It all sounded a bit messy.

Chris Grayston – Image was well thought through. Only disappointment was original song.

Ben Price - Good stage performance. Visually good but more from guitar players needed. Guitar playing became a little tedious. A bit messy in parts. A case of too many cooks during 2nd song.

Adam Smith

Tom Deacon -  Great voice and unique delivery. Brilliant. Built it up and took it down. Had the audience in the palm of his hands.

Alex Baker – I actually love this guy.

Michael King – Very good performance. Added his stamp to the song.

Annika Allen – Liked your song and how you flicked between acapella and playing the guitar.

Chris Grayston – Confusing message with image. Fantastic individual voice. Very captivating but let down by some sloppy picking.

Ben Price - It’s all about the accent, but intro was too long and got boring. Performance needed more energy but pleasant nonetheless.

Anna Pancaldi

Tom Deacon – Sweet and soulful voice. Easy listening. Nice change of song.

Alex Baker – Very good but I’d liked to have seen more personality.

Michael King – Needs to work the stage more.

Annika Allen – Loved your mash-up. You have an amazing voice and the guitarist was great. Think you could have done more on stage and added more to your look.

Chris Grayston – Cover had everything, original didn’t. Funky and fun. Great tone to the vocal. Should have worked the stage more.

Ben Price - Looks great really chilled vocals really liked them. Nice spin on cover. A bit lounge bar at times I couldn’t watch a full set.

Ashley Dawes

Tom Deacon – Nice use of tempo throughout. Wanted it to break but and smash it at the end, but well held.

Alex Baker – Good voice, good performance.

Michael King – Something missing!

Annika Allen – Great stage presence.

Ben Price - A few nervous notes in their early days. Good stage performance but I think nerves won the battle.

Disctracted

Tom Deacon – Didn’t need to be told their ages, they smashed it in their own terms.

Alex Baker – Strong harmonies and so good for so young.

Michael King – Good for young’uns.

Annika Allen – You both looked great. A massive improvement on the last time. Loved the mix of your original song and Adele cover. Bright future ahead.

Ben Price - These girls are ones for the future - songwriting ability well beyond their years. Need to de-americanise slightly. Would like to see vocalist work the stage more.

Ellie Campbell

Tom Deacon – Catchy lyrics in original song. Great voice. Brought Need a Dollar to life.

Alex Baker – Great voice, good image. Good style. Looks like an original star.

Michael King – Not bad. More stage movement needed.

Annika Allen – Amazing and strong voice. Maybe work on your style so you can look more unique.

Ben Price - No nerves at all really good to see. Looks awesome. Nice original song. Nice spin on cover but I’d have preferred a change of pace to make it a little more energetic. Overall good though.

Harry Jones

Tom Deacon – Colourful performance. Got stronger as the performance went on.

Alex Baker – Nice voice. Needs to work on original material.

Michael King – OK – nothing special.

Annika Allen – You were off key when trying to hit some of the notes. The song was beautiful. Keep performing.

Ben Price - Nice and pleasant but all one pace. Mediocre - needs to put in a performance which granted is hard as an acoustic solo.

Joe Housley & Tom Bailey

Tom Deacon – Great look. Great voice, emotive and clear. Think they could have had more fun but still strong.

Alex Baker – Original Song is excellent. Should make a band though.

Annika Allen – Work on your image and stage presence.

Ben Price - One paced. Need to put in a performance the boys sing nice enough but they need an edge or a USP. Nice voice though and a good song.

Katie Dove-Dixon

Tom Deacon – Spell-binding performance. Great use of instruments. Colourful.

Alex Baker – My favourite all day so far. She has a great voice and a great presence. An interesting edge.

Michael King – I like Katie but I didn’t get a performance.

Annika Allen – You have the talent and the star looks. Work on the material you perform on stage. It didn’t captivate me.

Chris Grayston – Has presence.

Ben Price - Looks great as ever. Nice to see a smiley face on stage. Unusual choice of cover but an adept one. Good sound it’s in at the moment. Vocally excellent. Good original.

Lucy Spraggan

Tom Deacon – Such an entertainer. Made me laugh, shocked me, wowed me. Most of all has star quality.

Alex Baker – Just brilliant!

Michael King – Brilliant but image and style let her down.

Annika Allen – You’re like a female Ed Sheeran. Great performance. I loved you. Just work on your image and style.

Chris Grayston – Superb writer. Great writing.

Ben Price - Awesome original. Flawless. She entertained us which hasn’t always been the case with others.

Luisa Santiago

Tom Deacon – Used the space. Great percussion guys, would have been better if Luisa was in centre though.

Michael King – Direction a bit cloudy.

Annika Allen – You didn’t look comfortable in the dress.

Ben Price - Very nervous and a bit one paced. Nice to show versatility with keys. Got lively towards the end which was good and she has more of a defined sound than last round.

Luke Burr

Tom Deacon – Wasn’t expecting such a distinct voice with passion and clarity. Great piano playing. Had the crowd instantly.

Alex Baker – Holy F**k. What a voice!

Michael King – On point!!

Annika Allen – Great choice of songs. Loved your confidence and stage presence for someone so young. Great voice just keep performing your act.

Chris Grayston – Difficult to perform on the keys but made it a powerful and engaging performance.

Ben Price – Very talented, excellent voice. 16 years-old! Has a future.

Malory Torr

Tom Deacon – Great choice of songs. Playful performance. Great facial expressions. Charming and interesting.

Alex Baker – Very quirky, very cool and a good message!

Michael King – Good image, nice vibe, song was good.

Annika Allen – Loved the song it’s very catchy and you executed it well. Great image as well. Keep practicing your craft.

Ben Price – Careful of Americanisation. Nice song I like that she improved it for the final.

Mark Crofts

Tom Deacon – Warmth and charm in the performance. Thong Song was made his own. Classic.

Alex Baker – Brilliant voice.

Michael King – Image lets him down. Love his voice.

Annika Allen – Your song choice of Thong Song was unexpected and went down well with the audience. You executed it well. Nice voice. Keep performing.

Ben Price – Pleasant but not original. Strange choice of cover felt a bit dated.

Nick Riley

Tom Deacon – Grew with confidence as he went on. Great voice, just needed to relax more. Still enjoyable.

Michael King – Not the most entertaining.

Annika Allen – Great voice. Work on your stage presence and image and be confident.

Ben Price – Early tuning issues. Not sure the cover worked for him. As always with Nick though, a great original.

P3

Tom Deacon – Energy is their middle name. Explosive! Left nothing at the door.

Alex Baker – Strong ideas, needs tightening up though.

Michael King - Not bad but not as good as they think they are.

Annika Allen – Loved the MC’s. Great energy. Your stage presence and use of the stage was fantastic. Didn’t like the two singers they were out of tune.

Chris Grayston – At times it really works and at others needs space.

Ben Price – Female vocals off key. What’s the rucksack all about? For some reason it just doesn’t work. They had fun though which is always good to see.

Peter Skeen

Tom Deacon – Taken on a journey with his distinctive voice, rocked the crowd.

Michael King – Good singer, but not too entertaining.

Annika Allen – Great voice and choice of songs.

Ben Price – Encapsulating persona. Slightly off key, very slightly. Great voice, great song. Love the different shades in his voice.

Rainboy

Tom Deacon – Proper showman. Owned that stage.

Alex Baker – Drummer was insanely good.

Michael King – Needs work. Could be good.

Annika Allen – You looked great and put on a show. Loved that nice song. Work on your voice, could be stronger.

Ben Price – A bit cabaret to begin with. Not as dynamic as before think it missed the dancers.

Shirin

Tom Deacon – Lively performance. Used the space well with the dancers.

Michael King – Very good. Star quality.

Annika Allen – Great, fun and lively performance. You put on a show and looked great.

Chris Grayston - Cut out the Butlins edge and she’s a star in the making.

Ben Price – Very accomplished but not that original. Almost perfect vocally.

Silvar Laidlow

Tom Deacon – Liked the energy, he used the space well. Didn’t need the other MC shouting and swearing. Believe in your ability, no need for hype-men.

Alex Baker – Much preferred the start.

Michael King – Good performance.

Annika Allen – Loved the first song. Very heartfelt. Thought the second half of the performance could have been tighter.

Chris Grayston – Great song, great performance. Best I’ve seen Silva.

Ben Price – Good song Silvar. Bad cover choice though and the MC not good.

Stephanie Santiago

Tom Deacon - Silky, soulful and powerful voice. She didn’t need to move around anymore than she did though.

Alex Baker – Great 90’s vibes! Strong voice.

Michael King – Lovely voice, image lets her down.

Annika Allen – Very confident performance. Great voice. You seemed really comfortable on stage. Nice song.

Chris Grayston – On point with the vocal one of the best vocals of the final.

Ben Price – Didn’t thrill me. Needed more spice.

The Trinity Band

Tom Deacon – Band were tight. MC and singer were tight. Great energy in performance. Loved it.

Alex Baker – Amazing. Should win!

Michael King – Big!!!

Annika Allen – The band were AMAZING! Extremely talented. Loved the energy and stage performance. You all mashed well together. Great song.

Ben Price – Class! Energy, the lot. Great live act.

Xpose

Tom Deacon – Well worked routines. Not easy going on last after previous band have smashed it! They left nothing in the locker. Heart and soul was there and can’t be questioned.

Alex Baker – Dated, but well executed.

Michael King – Messy.

Annika Allen – Good energy and dancing.

Ben Price – Not as sharp image-wise as before. Very well coordinated, flawless moves. Dated though.

Urban/Pop/Acoustic Category Top 5 Acts

1st The Trinity Band

2nd Lucy Spraggan

3rd Luke Burr

4th Katie Dove-Dixon

5th Rainboy

Don’t miss your chance to perform in front of Music Industry Judges! You can now enter Live and Unsigned 2012