THE search is on for music’s next big thing, with the first live heat of the Reidys Exposure event tomorrow night.

More than 90 bands and artists have taken part in a series of live auditions, hoping to get a slot at one of four heats.

Now in its third year, the event has attracted acts from all over East Lancashire, plus Manchester, Liverpool and even from as far away as Newcastle and Portsmouth.

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Up for grabs is a first prize of £1,000 of Reidys vouchers, a music video and studio time to record a single, a Roland synth and £250 to spend on Shure microphones.

The winners will be guaranteed slots at various festivals this summer, including Darwen Live and Cloudspotting, This year there will also be prizes for the runners-up and the third-placed act.

Paul Nuttall, managing director of Blackburn-based Reidys Home Of Music said, “The event is now in its third year and has gone from strength to strength. This year we have rebranded the event to reflect its standing in the music scene. It is a competition but the main aim is to showcase the outstanding talent that is out there.”

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Inaugural winners of the event, Ribble Valley-based duo The Remedy, went on to support James Blunt in front of 7,000 people at Hoghton Tower. And last year’s winners Good Foxy have supported a number of high-profile bands including The Hoax at the Burnley Rock & Blues Festival.

Accrington’s Reece Bibby, who as part of Stereo Kicks reached the finals of television’s The X Factor, also took part in last year’s competition.

Paul said: “The quality of artists who have auditioned this year has been amazing.”

Taking part in tomorrow’s heat at Blakey’s in King George’s Hall, Blackburn, will be Visitors, Monsters As Humans, Grace Davies, Henry Gallagher, Kellys Heroes, West Side Dukes, Cataclysm and more more act still to be decided. Doors will open at 7pm.