Published: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 2:55pm
Girls are ready to rock
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By Jennifer Cauley
HOPEFUL: Dionne, Debbie, Kerri and Carol are geared up for the final.
AN ASPIRING Barrhead musician has had her talent backed by some of the music industry's harshest critics.
And after battling against hundreds of other artists at the auditions, Debbie McGovern and her band MWI have made it to the regional finals of one of the country's toughest talent competitions.
The regional final of 'Live and Unsigned' will see Debbie, 21, and her bandmates go head-to-head with a multitude of other acts to compete for the top prize - a place at the Live and Unsigned Festival at London's O2 Arena.
And the winners will then be crowned the UK's 'Best Unsigned Act' in front of hundreds of thousands of fans.
They will also receive a recording contract and up to £30,000 to release their first single.
The band, who have only been together for a year, are excited to have been given such a huge chance so early on in their career.
As well as singing, the hopeful popstars also street dance and engage in a wide variety of music.
Barrhead girl Debbie is one of the original members of the group and she and a fellow band mate held some auditions of their own to find the remaining pieces of the ensemble.
A keen singer and dancer, Debbie has always loved performing and is keen to find her feet on a bigger stage.
She said: "It's really good to have got so far already.
"We've just started out, and we haven't been together for very long so this is massive for us.
"The final should be a pretty big deal and we're quite excited.
"We're really hoping to get a recording contract out of it.
"We write our own songs, and we're just trying to get ourselves heard.
"I've always been interested in singing and dancing and I just think that you shouldn't be embarrassed about doing what you love.
"You just have to go for it and try."
Over 30,000 people have entered the contest over the past three years, and organisers say that its popularity has continued, giving rise to a new wave of musical genius.
Events director of Live and Unsigned, Chris Grayston said: "Debbie wowed the judging panel and MWI sailed through the audition stage.
"This competition really is worlds apart from X Factor and other TV talent contests - we're all about originality, live ability and credibility.
"We don't accept demos or submissions and everyone auditions live."
The final will be held on March 13 in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased on the door or visit www.liveandunsigned.uk.com for more information.
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******
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Mar 6 10 19:50
Comment: 9351
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******
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Mar 6 10 19:54
Comment: 9352
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hev
Unregistered User
Mar 9 10 10:55
Comment: 9383
Good luck to these girls, I hope they do well. I suppose they must have a bit of talent to have got this far, and they should be proud of themselves.
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Sandy
Unregistered User
Mar 9 10 11:16
Comment: 9385
why do all these young girls want to become famous? What happened to the days when you actually had to be talented? No harm to them, I'm sure they're alright, but people like Vera Lynn and Nat King Cole had to work hard for years and years before they were spotted. Or what about Elvis? The country needs to stop churning out these rubbish talent shows and focus on things which will actually develop young people's abilities.
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Eliza
Unregistered User
Mar 9 10 11:40
Comment: 9386
it's nice to see these girls getting a chance to do something they love. our lives are full of doom and gloom, so things that brighten them up a little are nice. There are loads of these talent contests around, but as long as these girls keep their heads, why shouldn't they have a bit of fun?
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Agnes K
Unregistered User
Mar 9 10 12:26
Comment: 9387
At least these kids sing in their spare time instead of spraying paint or causing trouble. They should have more contests like this is the schools or open a youth club on something. good on then, I hope they win.
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Johnny
Unregistered User
Mar 9 10 12:30
Comment: 9389
In some ways, this really annoys me. Me and my friends are in a band, and we practise every week and try and gig as much as we can. It's pretty difficult and some of the places are manky, but we know we need to do it to get noticed. I don't know if this group know how much hard work is involved in becoming famous, or if they actually want to be singers. Good on them though - at least they actually came together themselves and didn't form through a rubbish tv talent show.
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Claire
Unregistered User
Mar 9 10 12:33
Comment: 9390
hopefully they'll win and put Barrhead on the map. I hope they get the chance to show off thier skills. They've been practising for ages, and they really deserve it. it's time peopple had more opportunities like this. They should run talent shows and things in the town - whatever happened to the spirit of Barrhead?
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Jen
Unregistered User
Mar 10 10 11:12
Comment: 9405
Sandy, are you saying these girls are not talented? This contest they are in is not like popstars and xfactor etc. where it is more of a popularity contest. These girls will be judged by professionals only and it is tough to get through because it is all based on talent - and is a gig that every aspiring musician would love to appear on as a lot of hard work is involved. Good luck to them - Scotland usually appear well on live and unsigned (I think a scottish singer won last year??)
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DON STEPHEN GIUDICI
Unregistered User
Mar 12 10 13:05
Comment: 9485
sandy needs a kick in the plum's
these girls are great xxxxxxxxxxx
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