BurySOUND 2019 launches

BurySOUND returns for its 21st year of headlining local musical talent.

Applications are now coming in for the competition which seeks out original raw talent particularly that in West Suffolk.

The heats will run at the beginning of next year with a grand final being staged at The Apex on March 8.

The competition is open to any band, duo or solo artist based in East Anglia who perform original material. All ages and genres are welcome but priority will be given to younger artists based in the West Suffolk area.

The competition was set up in 1998 by St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Jackie Smith and promoter Paul Johnson and the competition is one of East Anglia’s best-known and longest-running band competitions.

Each year judges seek out up and coming musical talent. Artists are judged on musical ability, entertainment factor, stage presence, lyrical content, originality, professionalism and band togetherness as well as passion and raw talent.

Previous winners and entrants have included Miss Black America, The Dawn Parade, Blue Gandhi, Thee Vicars, Lewis Mockler and Influx of Insanity, last year’s winners.

Last year almost 50 new bands applied from around the region.

Guest headliners at the grand finale will be Influx of Insanity and Kyanos who took the 2018 Rising Star award.

Heat One is on January 25 at The Hunter Club, Bury St Edmunds. Heats two, four and five are also at The Hunter Club with Heat Three being staged at Haverhill Arts Centre on February 8. Artists can enter now at www.burysound.com/enter

The deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday November 22.