LOCAL bands are being urged to apply for a major music competition which could see them performing at two of this summer's major festivals and getting their own tour bus.

The Attic in Accrington is one of around 50 venues around the country to host a heat of the Red Stripe Music Awards.

Owner Paul Fox said that he had received around 400 applications from bands to play at the show on Friday, March 7 but so far NONE from East Lancashire.

"This is a major competition but definitely not just a battle of the bands.

Bands are not just judged on their performance but also on their songs, their website and their fans," he said.

"I won't be judging, that will done from a panel of music industry experts, but it would be a crying shame if there were no local bands represented at the local heat."

The winners of the local heats go through to a regional final and then those winners play at a grand final in London.

Last year's final was held at La Scala in front of 3,000 fans compered by Simon Amstell.

The winners The Runners have not looked back since.

Any bands interested should log on to www.redstripe.net