Unsigned bands from across Shropshire and Mid Wales are being urged to send videos and CDs to the Shropshire Star in their bid to win a £5,000 Battle of the Bands prize.

James Shaw, competition organiser, said judges were ready and waiting to hear new music from local groups.

Bands can win £5,000 worth of prizes, including top equipment from Shropshire’s premier live music store SMC Sound & Vision, St Michael’s Street, Shrewsbury.

SMC is donating about £3,500 worth of band equipment including a PA system, bass rig and electric guitar effects pedals.

The competition is also being run in conjunction with The Buttermarket, in Shrewsbury, which will host two gigs in March, including the grand final.

Other principal sponsors include Shropshire-based Wolf At Your Door Records, which will provide 100 demo discs and advice from expert mentors, and Soundscape Studios, which will provide four hours’ studio time, so the winner can record new songs.

A Shropshire Star photographer will take pictures of the winners.

James said: “We’d urge people to get their entries to us right away.

“We need their demos, videos, biographies and photographs. Along with our generous sponsors, we are committed to finding the best unsigned talent in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

“So many young groups play unsigned band nights at venues across the region each week. We want them to get in touch now. All they need to do is send us their music and contact details, we’ll do the rest.”

The competition will run for two months and bands will have until March 9 to submit their entries.

They should send music, videos, photographs and biographies to James Shaw, Shropshire Star, Waterloo Road, Ketley, Telford, TF1 5HU. Bands will be featured by Telford FM DJ Paul Shuttleworth on his unsigned bands programme.

* Employees of Shropshire Newspapers, associate companies and their immediate families are not eligible to enter. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Competition sponsors:

Shropshire Music Centre – the main sponsors, offering £3,000 of band equipment www.salopmusic.co.uk

A Wolf at Your Door Records – offering 100 demo discs and advice www.wolfatyourdoor.com

Soundscape Studios – offering four hours studio time http://soundscape-studios.co.uk

The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury – venue for the Battle Of The Bands finals www.buttermarket.com