Aimée @ Live and Unsigned NATIONAL Finals 2009 June 27, 2009

It has just been confirmed that AimÃe, 13, has made it through to compete in the National Grand Final of Live and Unsigned!! Fighting through auditions, regional finals, wildcard text vote and area finals, AimÃe will now represent her area in the hope of walking away with an impressive recording contract and the title of UKs Best Unsigned Act 2009. The area final saw the best acts across the region battle it out live in a head to head showcase, in front of audience members and a judging panel, to determine which act would then go on to fly the flag for this area at a national level. Securing a place in the National Final was no easy feat; with acts already achieving success from over 10,000 registered competitors, audition processes and a regional final, very few acts were guaranteed to progress from the area finals. Live and Unsigned is the UKs 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. Live and Unsigned's popularity comes from its reputation for encouraging originality and the acts taking part are commended for doing their own thing; being individual, original and performing their own genre and style live! The National Grand Final will be a showcase of the very best unsigned talent from across the UK, with each act representing themselves and their own region. This, however, will be no easy ride; all competitors will be performing to a capacity crowd including professionals from the music industry. The pressure now is truly on, as competitors will have to impress the expert judging panel including former manager of the Sex Pistols and industry extraordinaire, Malcolm McLaren, Radio 1's Annie Nightingale, Dane Bowers and a host of other music industry buffs. Chris Grayston, Events Director of Live & Unsigned explains 'This year's standard has been higher than ever, we have seen some really serious acts that are demonstrating a real wealth of talent, experience and determination. However, this does now mean grand finalists will now have to work harder than ever to impress and take away the contract' The overall winner of the competition wins a recording and management contract with Future Music with an investment of up to £20,000 to release their single including professional studio time, promotional campaigns and more. They will be thrust into the media spotlight through television, radio and the press and all winners will all be invited on the UK Live and Unsigned tour, which will expose their music to over 40,000 people. This is a fantastic opportunity for all the Grand Final contestants, even if they don't win the top half scoring acts will also have the opportunity to be nominated for the Vodafone Live Award for best Unsigned Act. Kiddo360, were the winners of Live and Unsigned 2008 and have since won the Vodafone award for best Live and Unsigned act alongside other winning acts on the night such as Kate Nash, The Ting Tings and Primal Scream at Brixton Academy in London. This was in addition to mass media attention, a national tour and recorded their single at Animal Farm Studios, with their single being released late July set to top the charts. Representing the best of this region's talent, AimÃe is hoping for all the regional support possible to be crowned the UK's best Live and Unsigned act at Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday the 27th of June. If you wish to support AimÃe tickets are available directly by messaging her via http://www.myspace.com/aimeeacoustic or from Portsmouth Guildhall Box Office http://www.portsmouthguildhall.co.uk To support AimÃe in her bid to win the Acoustic Act/Vocal Groups Live and Unsigned Final, please text Unsigned20 to 84222

Official Website: http://www.portsmouthguildhall.co.uk/index.php