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Previous winners include Birdy!

The UK's largest music talent competition for singers and songwriters travelled to Manchester this week to see the best acts in the area battle it out for a chance to play at the grand final at the O2 in January.

Here the judges give us some feedback from the event, but remember it could all change at the grand final. Those who didn’t make it through on the day there is one more opportunity to make the O2 with the Wildcard vote; www.openmicuk.co.uk/national_vote

Views expressed by Judges are opinions and subjective to that particular Judge panel and in no way reflect the views of Open mic UK but are published with a view to be positive and beneficial to the performing act’s so they may take on board with a view to helping  them.

Judges Singer songwriter Greg Morton, Heather Baker from Singing Teacher Biz, Bold Management’s Managing Director Martin O’Shea, professional singer Karen Corson and Future Music’s Chris Grayston.

Over 25’s age category

Steve O; This guy has got the moves to get the ladies hot, working the audience well and his original could have been a motown classic.

Jody Cooper; Performance was a bit over the top and felt rushed. Would be best to work on some original songs. Work to get those higher notes without strain.

James Gillespie; Distinctive and raspy voice of an accomplished performer. Good adaption of the cover. Careful not to cause permanent damage to vocal with a more compromised place.

Ross Gurney; Needs to stand out and be unique perhaps a bit more excitement. Loud isn’t always good develop more light and shade.

Joe Gee; Acapella is brave but like running without trainers, limited. Nice tone on higher notes.

Jam@ine; Nice vocal but over emphasises phrasing and nothing different about the cover. Lovely tone to the voice but may want to consider getting rid of the growling as it doesn’t add to the performance.

Louise Allan; Song choices well too cheesy and far too popular made it like a sing a long at the local pub on Christmas Eve. Make sure the facial expressions match the lyrics.

James McKay; Slowing down of the cover didn’t work and didn’t hold the interest. Work on the intimate moments they’re more impressive than the shouted ones. Top end of the voice needs to be built up.

Emma Wells; Understated and classy performance perhaps needed something a bit more contemporary it seemed a little old fashioned.

Richie Syrett; Maybe a little more quirky would be good to stand out, a bit street busker performance. The laid back approach is more enjoyable for the audience.

Phia; Acapella was a bit odd. Original was a catchy song and engaging despite vocals on backing being too loud and pointless.

The Lone Harp; As always this guy sings the blues! Perhaps could interchange the harmonic and vocals a little more frequent to give some change of dynamics. Work to develop some vibrato so your sustained notes have more tone to them.

Graeme Kerr; Should have thrown in an original failed to show us who he is as an artist. Top notes are flat and shouted try to keep everything easy and strain free.

Alison Crawford; Put together a well thought out performance, routine and image. All complimented each other well but not sure the backing vocalists added anything.

Doug Fraughan; Performance needed more energy to keep up with the intensity of the track. Loud isn’t always good look to enhance the softer moments to give better dynamics.

Eden Vernett Showers; What a lovely rich vocal and a very well chosen cover. Don’t pull the mic too far from the mouth pulling away far too much when it’s not needed.

Andrea Wilson; Got a good voice song choice was a little obvious song choice. Missed the tone for the song which should have had reflected the softer and more heartfelt lyrics.

Franco; Original is strong not so sure about the guitar playing sometimes a little messy. To  much emphasis on the guitar and performance got lost in it.

James Foster-Lamb; Good original perhaps could have been a little tighter and slicker overall. Watch how hard you sing it’s damaging on the voice.

Hilary Brownson-Hardman; Second song started shaky and flat didn’t maintain the heights of the first song choice. Spice up the image!

Lester Preston Jnr; Nice bold sound, not so sure the image between performers was synchronised and needs something to set them apart from everyone else very predictable and dated.