THE search is well and truly on to find East Lancashire’s most talented musicians and singers.

Application forms for the Reidy’s talent competition backed by the Lancashire Telegraph are being snapped up by eager artists with an eye on the £1,000 prize.

The competition is open to amateur and semi-professional unsigned musicians and vocalists with a series of auditions being held at Reidy’s Home of Music on Nab Lane, Blackburn, to decide who goes through to four heats in February.

The heats will be held every Thursday night in February at Blakey’s in King George’s Hall with the grand final being at the same venue on Thursday, March 7.

The aim of the competition, with £1,000 to spend at Reidy’s, up for grabs is to recognise the genuine talent that exists in East Lancashire. The miniumum age of entrant is 14 but under-16s must be accompanied to all performances by an adult.

Groups of any genre, including and jazz and classical, can enter but the maximum number of people involved is five. All music is to be performed live and backing tracks are not permitted, although an accompanist can be arranged if needed.

Application forms are available from Reidy’s Home of Music or by emailing events@reidys.com Closing date for applications is Thursday, January 17.