Singer going to finals
Ansdell-based singer Charlese Allen has made it through to the national final of the major Open Mic UK 2009 search for new vocal talent.
Charlese gained her place after making it through in the Liverpool regional final of the event and will now be competing against performers from throughout the country on Sunday December 6 at The
Willows in Salford where she could win an impressive management and recording contract and be crowned the UK's Best On the Mic 2009.
"The night was great," says Charlese.
"There were 17 acts altogether, performing a mix of original and covered songs."
She sang Crazy, the Gnarls Barclay chart topper, but in an acoustic slowed down version accompanied by Liverpudlian musician and friend Matthew Shaw.
"It went really well and I came second which means that I'm through to the national finals," she says.
"Once again people can come along to support me – and I hope they do."
Tickets are 12 each and information on how to obtain them can be found on her Facebook entry and YouTube –where you can also view her performance.
"So I'm really excited, not to mention a little nervous about performing in front of the judges, and of course potentially winning the 20,000 investment towards recording an album. Fingers crossed!"
Charlese has been singing since she was eight, concentrating on classical and choral music until 16 when she discovered soul, blues and jazz.
At 17 she started singing in bars and restaurants and after finishing at school took a year out before starting a Diploma in Popular Music and Sound Technology at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA).
Whilst there she started singing in a couple of function bands, performing at events across the country and in Germany.
Now back on the Fylde she has started playing with local guitarist Tom Vernon and is getting another band together.
As previously reported, Blackpool vocalist Robert Lea and Paul Speak-Heaton, Oldham-based runner-up from the Stanley Bar & Cabaret talent contest, have made it through to the grand finals.
Also still in with a chance of reaching the final is Blackpool teenager Ryan Cregan who has been given another opportunity to make it in the form of a 'Wildcard' entry which has been introduced with two places up for grabs in each age category for the North and South.
Each act has been allocated a specific code and the public can vote until noon today via a text for Ryan who could go on to grab one of the last grand final spots.
You can vote for Ryan by text (wildcard294 to 84222). Details at www.myspace.com/ryanjohncregan or alternatively hit
www.openmicuk.co.uk
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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