Last years finals

It's back! But for 2010 it's bigger and better! Battle of the Bands has become...

Calling all bands, hip hop groups, rap artists and musicians - from funk to folk, beat-box to bhangra, rap, rock, country and urban; hip-hop, trip-hop or just plain chart pop, garage, gospel, grunge and grime + everything in between.

Ever dreamed of playing at Glastonbury?

Or recording your own album?

Are you the next big thing waiting to be discovered? The new Ting Tings, Florence and the Machine, 50 cent, Muse or Jay Z?

If the answer to any of the above is YES - then we want to hear from you because we can make it happen!*

*The Glastonbury and recording studio bits anyway! A&S Police cannot promise to turn you in to a multi-platinum rap artiste although we will definitely try out best.

We hosted our first Battle of the Bands competition in 2009. Bands from all over Somerset, Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire battled it out at the Colston Hall, in front of judges Michael Eavis, Kieron Pepper (former live drummer with The Prodigy) and our very own Chief Constable, to win that coveted prize of a slot at the 2009 Glastonbury Festival.

The winning band, The Fuel, went on to play on the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury and what a year they have had since.

After featuring in a documentary on BBC 2 and interviews for BBC Radio 6, Somervalley FM, Radio Bristol and BBC 5 Live - they played main support for Fightstar at the youth4youthfestival, have been approached by a London promotions company who are taking them on a nationwide tour in February, having played to a sold out industry showcase crowd at the Camden Roundhouse, and have recently recorded and launched their first E.P and video. They are also going on tour to the USA next year. Action packed or what!?

The competition is back and it's bigger and better. Sponsored by Stage Electrics and in partnership with the Colston Hall's education programme REMIX the competition application period has now begun. Entries should be returned by February 27th. Regional heats will be held across the force area in March, where bands/artists will perform in front of celebrity judges, who will provide feedback on your performance.

The 12 winning bands/groups from the heats – two from each region, will be invited to come to a day long workshop on April 11 with Kieron Pepper and other music industry gods and goddesses. Each band will work on their material with the panel before the numbers are narrowed down from 12 to 8 at the end of the day.

The final 8 bands, groups or artistes will play at the Colston Hall on April 17 in the Live and Unsigned final for the chance to play at the 2010 Glastonbury Festival. There are other prizes up for grabs too.

The dates of the heats will be:

• The Trinity Centre, Bristol - March 6, 2010
• Filton College, South Glos - March 7, 2010
• Weston College, North Somerset - March 13, 2010
• Bridgwater College, West Somerset - March 14, 2010
• Yeovil College, East Somerset - March 20, 2010
• Bath University Bath Plug Bar, Bath and North East Somerset - March 28, 2010

The Avon and Somerset Constabulary (that's us – the police) aren't just all about hand-cuffs or ASBOs. We are actually nice people, honest, and we want to get to know you, so you feel like you can talk to us when you have a problem or need our help.

So we thought – let's do something "book" (see we know text talk too), that would help us get to know you, help combat the negative image of young people in the media and to highlight the talent of the young people of Avon and Somerset.

We are working with REMIX and the Colston Hall music education programmes to make sure that young people in our area are given opportunities to make the most of their talent and creativity.

So if you are the next best thing waiting to be discovered then read on...

You must:

• Be aged between 13-19 and have your parent or guardian's consent to participate,
• Live, work or are educated in the force area: Bath, Bristol, South Gloucestershire or Somerset,
• Be able to play/perform live music (at least two different instruments or elements of your performance/act must be performed live)
• Be able to perform two songs with at least one original number of your own,
• Be in a band or group of between 2 and 8 members,
• Be available for one of the heats + April the 11th, April the 17th and the duration of the Glastonbury Festival 23 – 27 June 2010.

If you are all of the above then download the application form and get it back to us sharpish! The closing date for applications is February 27th 2010. No demo required.

We will be selecting at random, 20 bands per region from the applications received, who will then be invited to play at their regional heat and the battle will begin.

P.S - We know they are a bit dull but PLEASE make sure you read the Terms and Conditions and legal stuff before you apply and make sure your parents or guardians autograph your application form before you send it back to us or we can't let you enter - and that would be a disaster.

P.P.S - No swearing in your songs, isn't big or clever. Ta very much.

Oh and one more thing - Good luck!!!!!