This year’s Open Mic UK singing competition has now been announced.

Starting in August 2013, the search for the UK’s best singers, singer-songwriters, rappers and vocalists is back.

Open Mic UK is one of the largest national music competitions for singers and solo artists in the UK and with over 9,000 entered last year, Open Mic is confident the 2013 competition is set to be the biggest yet.

Those who make it through auditions will go on to perform in live showcases in front of a professional judging panel – made up of music industry specialists, A&R, vocal coaches and guest celebrities – and packed out audience in some of the UK’s most prestigious live music venues. Acts talented enough to reach the Grand Final will perform within the UK’s most recognised live music venue, The O2 in London.

There are plenty of opportunities for acts that enter Open Mic UK to win prizes throughout the competition with over £50,000 worth of prizes up for grabs, including recording studio time and music development classes, plus a main prize of £5,000 cash to the overall winner.

The audition dates are as follows:

• Sunday 18^th August –  The Beck Theatre, Middlesex
• Sunday 18^th August – The Palace Hotel, Manchester
• Saturday 24^th August – National Exhibition Centre (NEC),Birmingham
• Sunday 1^st September – Pavilion Dance, Bournemouth
• Sunday 1^st September – Vincent Harris Suite, Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield
• Sunday 1^st September – at Ferneham Hall, Fareham
• Saturday 7^th September – Palace Theatre, Essex
• Saturday 7^th September – Studio 1, City Halls, Glasgow
• Saturday 7^th September – Hove Centre, Brighton
• Sunday 8^th September –  The Coal Exchange, Cardiff,
• Sunday 8^th September – The Liner Hotel, Liverpool,
• Sunday 8^th September – Sub89, Reading
• Sunday 15^th September – Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre, Newcastle
• Sunday 15^th September – Dingwalls, London
• Sunday 15^th September – Harpur Suite, Corn Exchange, Bedford
• Sunday 22^nd September – St Georges, Bristol

All ages are welcome to enter as Open Mic UK is divided into age categories;

• Under 16,
• 16-20
• 21 and over

Previous winner Birdy continues to go from strength-to-strength having been signed to Warner Music. Since winning Open Mic UK aged 12, Birdy has had number one records in France, Holland, Belgium and Australia and enjoyed a UK top 20 hit with her spine-tingling version of Bon Iver’s Skinny Love.

So, if you think you’ve got what it takes to follow in her footsteps, enter now and get on the mic for Open Mic UK 2013!

FOR MORE INFO GO TO: www.openmicuk.co.uk/singing-auditions