Summer is just around the corner and that can only mean one thing for West Yorkshire bands – The Futuresound Competition.

The Cockpit will be looking for local acts to take part in the annual competition which showcases the best of local talent in a battle of the bands style competition to win a place on the Leeds and Reading Festival Republic Line Ups.

For the third consecutive year the overall winner will play on the Festival Republic Stage at the Leeds and Reading Festivals which has previously seen the likes of Kasabian, Bloc Party & the Arctic Monkeys. The runners up will also get the opportunity to play at the festivals on the brand new BBC Introducing Stages.

With the likes of The Pigeon Detectives, Forward Russia, The Kaiser Chiefs, Sunshine Underground and The Cribs making the nation stand up and take note that Leeds is the place to be for music, promoters of the Cockpit & Futuresound Music are aware that the city has loads more top acts to offer and this competition is the opportunity for local bands to get noticed.

The competition is now in its 8th year. Last year saw a huge amount of top quality entrants with the likes of Wintermute, Rochelle and Micky P Kerr coming in the top six acts and hopefully this year will prove to be even better.

The competition will take place on 10 dates running from the end of June and over the course of July featuring a three band line-up.

Each gig will be judged by three judges from within the Leeds music industry.

Full details about the competition and conditions of entry and application form can be found on www.thecockpit.co.uk. The deadline for entries will be the 30th May.