TWO heats down, two to go and the competition is just getting tougher.

Three more acts have reached the final of the Lancashire Telegraph-backed Reidy’s Talent Contest after the second heat on Thursday night.

Through from this week’s heat, held at Blakey’s at King George’s Hall, Blackburn, are Blackburn four-piece R.Y.A.N., the youngest finalists so far, 15-year-old duo Abbie and Page from Clitheroe and the urban rap trio Rime Suspex from Blackburn.

Once again nine acts and artists representing a vast array of different styles of music took to the stage in front of an enthusiastic Valentine’s night crowd and a panel of judges made up of leading agent Dave Reeve, promoter Ronnie Brown and Lancashire Telegraph features editor John Anson.

Seventy acts and artists took part in a series of live auditions at Reidy’s Home of Music on Nab Lane, Blackburn, to qualify for four heats.

The next heat will be on Thursday with the grand final on Thursday, March 7, at King George’s Hall.

The winners will receive £1,000 in vouchers to spend at Reidy’s.

Mr Anson said: “The aim of the competition was to discover genuinely talented artists from across East Lancashire and the two heats so far have exceeded all expectations.

“The diversity of talent on display has been amazing and judging has been a tremendously hard task.

“The final certainly promises to be amazing.”

The acts who competed in the second heat were singer-songwriters Jade Jones and Marco Galaea, one-man rave machine Raymond Sergeant, punk rock trio Black Confetti, rock covers band Phased and the jazz-infused sounds of Imogen Storey and the Philip Knight Experience. Tickets for the remaining Thursday night heats and the grand final are £3, available from the King George’s Hall box office on 0844 847 1664, or on the door on the night.