The Detours from Glasgow have won the UK’s best Live and Unsigned Act at the National Grand Final of Live and Unsigned 2009 and are now nominees for the Vodafone music awards.  The Detours were clearly the favourites of both McLaren and Nightingale, pushing rivals The Theory of Six Degrees into second place.

Stalwarts of the music business met enthusiastic newcomers in Portsmouth on Saturday as the Final of Live and Unsigned, a UK wide search for musical talent, took place at the Guildhall. The Detours have made it through auditions and various heats of live finals to eventually take away Live and Unsigned’s prestigious music title.

From an initial entry of more than 10,000, the final acts showcased their talent in front of thousands of audience members and a judging panel that included former manager of the Sex Pistols and musical icon Malcolm McLaren. Also casting an experienced eye over the acts was Annie Nightingale, the first female DJ on Radio One and now also the station’s longest serving broadcaster.

The judges, alongside an energised audience, voted The Detours as the winner of the competition on the day. Chris Grayston, judge on the night and head of A&R at Future Music commented ‘The standard this year was fantastic and the competition has just got bigger each year. All of the competitors impressed us on the day and had something to give reason to why they had made it through to the final. It was a great end to a great year. I am confident we have chosen the right winner and I am looking forward to next year’s competition and working with The Detours boys.’

Live and Unsigned is the UK’s national music competition for unsigned acts to compete live. With over 10,000 registrations for the second year running, it is the biggest music talent search for original acts in the UK. Live and Unsigned’s popularity comes from its reputation for encouraging originality and the acts taking part are commended for doing their own thing; being individual, original and performing their own genre and style live!

Also performing on the night were 2008 winners Kiddo 360 who followed up their success here last year with a Vodafone award, so the future looks bright for the 2009 winners.

Auditions for Future Music’s new National competition for solo singers ‘Open Mic UK’ start in August and the Live and Unsigned 2010 auditions begin again in January 2010 across the UK. The competition is for all unsigned acts, bands or soloists. For more information go to www.LiveandUnsigned.Uk.com

Check out The Detours Myspace at;

www.myspace.com/thedetoursinfo