02 and Polydor have announced the ten finalists of their previously reported unsigned band contest, 02 Undiscovered, and amongst them are a band called Shepherd's Pi - which counts amongst its members Coronation street star Rupert Hill. The judging panel did not, apparently, realise he was famous at the time of judging. Hill says: "We're obviously delighted that we made the top 10 out of 6,000 in the 'undiscovered' competition. I'm a bit worried that they don't know about my day job, but I'm very pleased that we were selected without that coming into it!"
The panel of judges, which includes Vince Power, critic Lisa Verrico, Polydor's Head of A&R Simon Gavin and former guitarist with Elastica Paul Jonze, will now have to select two winners from the shortlist of ten, which encompasses a wide variety of genres. The winning bands will get workshop sessions with members of the industry panel plus studio and producer time to record a track, a digital release of the track, and an opportunity to perform at the O2 Wireless festival in June.
Here are the ten finalists:
Joseph Macwan from Leicester
Scott McFarnon from Surrey
Nick Webber from Tonbridge Kent
Emma Rohan & Band from St Albans
George Burton from N. Lanarkshire/ Scotland
Shepherds Pi from Manchester
Stylux Marchin from London
Drink Me from London
Ejectorseat from Derby
Vix n Trix from South East London