North East bands get profile lift

Brilliant Mind (above) and Let's Buy Happiness will also perform

Five new bands are being given the chance to kick-start their careers by performing for a panel of industry experts in Newcastle on 14 November 09.

The showcase event - called North East Beat Unsigned - is being organised by music development agency Generator.

More than 40 bands submitted demos and the five chosen to play are Black Cab Casino, The Anglo Form, Pink Lane, Illustrators and Vacation Pioneers.

The event will take place at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle.

Expert advice

Tom Robinson, from BBC 6 Music, will be among the experts offering advice to the emerging acts.

BBC 6 Music's Tom Robinson will be on the panel

Tom is the presenter of Fresh on the Net, a weekly BBC Introducing show that bypasses CDs and record companies to play new tunes by unknown artists as heard on their own web pages - so he knows what he's talking about!

Peter Brewis, from Field Music, and Claire Dupree, from Narc. magazine, complete the panel.

The showcase - which has been organised to tie in with the end of an exhibition about the history of North East music - will also feature performances by local bands Brilliant Mind and Let's Buy Happiness.

Entry to North East Beat Unsigned is free, it is suitable for all ages, and doors open at noon on Saturday 14 November.

For more information e-mail Joe Frankland at Generator.