The audition dates for this year’s Open Mic UK competition have been announced and with over 9,000 entrants last year, the 2012 competition is set to be the biggest yet.

Open Mic UK is the largest national music competition for singers and solo artists in the UK and is open to all genres. The team travel across the country every year in search of the UK’s best singers, singer/songwriters, rappers and vocalists.

Acts can perform either covers or original material and they’ll be invited to a live audition in front of the judging panel.

Those who make it through the audition stage will go on to perform across the UK in live showcases complete with an audience and judging panel and will aim to progress to compete at the Grand National Final at The O2 in London! The panel is made up of music industry specialists, A&R, vocal coaches and guest celebrities.

There are plenty of opportunities to win prizes throughout the competition with over £50,000 worth of prizes up for grabs; including a new main prize of £5,000 cash to the overall winner, £2,500 to the runner-up and the remaining age category winners will receive £1,000. The winning act will be crowned in front of a packed out crowd at The O2 in London.

Open Mic UK has a great pedigree for success with last year’s category winner Hatty Keane signing with BGM soon after the competition and touring with Ed Sheeran and Wretch 32. Previous competition winner Birdy saw incredible chart success with her version of Bon Iver’s ‘Skinny Love’, and her self-titled 2011 album received great critical acclaim.

The Open Mic UK competition is divided into age categories; Under 16, 17-22, and 23 and over.

So, if you think you’ve got what it takes, get on the mic for Open Mic UK 2012!

The full list of audition dates are available at http://www.openmicuk.co.uk/singing-auditions

To apply now, click here.

Good luck!