ONE of the areas top annual music events will be bigger and better than ever this year, and you've got to be in it to win it, say organisers!

Okehampton Battle of the Bands 2011 has now been launched and unsigned bands from across the area are being urged to apply now to compete for the fantastic main prize.

Chris Hodgson, committee chair for Okehampton Battle of the Bands, said: 'We're looking for applications covering all musical styles, and there are only two main rules — no signed acts, and no tribute bands.'

Twenty one acts will be chosen to compete in the three heats, with four acts going through to the final in August.

The final — this year encompassing Okehampton's Party in the Park — will be held in Simmons Park in August. Last year, more than 1,000 people attended the event and enjoyed a spectacular evening of entertainment. This year organisers hope the event will be more of a community affair than ever before.

Organiser Chris urged bands to get their applications in quickly: 'Places in this year's event will go very quickly, and since we re-launched our website and wedged open the door for entrants, we've already had several applications.

'All you need is 20 minutes of material of literally any musical style. We're really keen to include as wide a variety of musical styles as possible, welcoming entrants of all ages, abilities and musical backgrounds.

'It doesn't matter if you have years of experience or whether this is your first ever gig; once you are on the stage it is a level playing field. Live entertainment is real and immediate, and the judges will be looking for that little bit of magic which only live music can deliver.'

Last year's winners The Sherpas won a combined prize of a professional photo shoot from Paul D Smart Photography, a fully produced music video from Off the Planet Productions, recording time at Aardvark Studios, billing at Chagstock 2011, plus two bottles of champagne, donated by Waitrose.

For more information on the competition, or to apply for a place, go to http://www.okehamptonbattleofthebands.co.uk">www.okehamptonbattleofthebands.co.uk or telephone 01837 608039.