Uncle Slacker & The Jellyfish from Chetlenham has wowed the judging panel of the UK’s biggest original music competition and sailed through the audition stage of Live and Unsigned. Uncle Slacker & The Jellyfish will be competing against the most talented bands and artists in the country at the Regional Final showcase of Live and Unsigned 2011 all in a bid to be signed!

Uncle Slacker (Colin Harley) & The Jellyfish (Jason Hartley) have been playing as a duo for about 6 months although they have known each other 22 years… Jellyfish is, in fact, Uncle Slacker’s son. Colin’s school report from March 1982 (aged 16) says “I feel he would do well to think less of ear-splitting music (if that’s the word) and his groups and consider more fully his academic work and its future importance.” …. 28 years later he’s got academic qualifications and is still thinking about ear splitting music!
Jason started playing instruments when he was 4 years old and is mostly self taught on the guitar, drums, percussion, bass and keyboards.
Jellyfish’s Great Grandad was a musician and performer, so talent clearly runs in the family. Arthur Hartley aka Fred Roberts played the piano at the silent movies in the early 1900s.

Uncle Slacker & The Jellyfish battled against hundreds of auditionees to secure a spot in the live shows and now has the opportunity to prove that they are the best in the region… Acts that made it through auditions will now take part in a live Regional Final Showcase in front of thousands of spectators and a professional judging panel, including judges from Kerrang, NME Radio and Radio One. The best auditionees from their Regional Final Showcase also get the opportunity to play support slots with a selection of major headlining acts.

Colin speaks of the competition, “To get this far in the LIve & Unsigned competition is great, but to go the whole way would be really amazing for us… This is a real competition for performers and bands who write their own songs”

Acts will be competing for main prizes which include; a management contract with Future Music, a World Tour taking in four continents including Australasia, Asia, America and Europe, an all expenses paid trip to Italy and a slot at Europe’s leading music festival courtesy of Tour Music Fest. The winning band will receive an all expenses paid trip to India, play in a global face off and have the chance to win from $50,000 in prizes!

Chris Grayston, Events Director of Live & Unsigned said:
“Live and Unsigned is all about originality, live ability and credibility. We don’t accept demos or submissions and everyone auditions live. We’ve got some fantastic prizes up for grabs this year in a £100, 000 prize pool, so there are lots of opportunities for everyone entering. Plus the Live and Unsigned Festival means 2011 will be the biggest competition yet!”

Uncle Slacker & The Jellyfish are now preparing for the Regional Final Showcase on 10th April 2011 at Main Room, National Exhibition Centre (NEC) for the opportunity to progress towards the Live and Unsigned festival at the O2 in London. For more information about the competition go to the website www.LiveandUnsigned.UK.com …Or better still get down to The NEC and support Uncle Sacker & The Jelly Fish! To book your ticket now click here

Other gigs lined up for Uncle Slacker & The Jellyfish include:

• Every Friday at The Fiery Angel, Hewlett Road, Cheltenham. (Open mic and any musicians are welcome to come and participate)
• 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th March (Race-week) at Tailors Eating House, Cambray Place, Cheltenham
• 25th May Winchcombe Festival of Music and Arts: The Working Men’s Institute, with other guests
• 27th May Winchcombe Festival of Music and Arts: The Royal Oak in Gretton, with other guests

Entry is free of charge for all of the above gigs.

The GMG would like to wish Colin & Jason all the best of luck with the competition.