ALMOST FAMOUS SONG COMPETITION Sweetheart Oh No! by Perry Thomas L. Artist Rogue Poet. OK, things are livening up a bit in our competition. This track really surprised me with just how good it is - it s got a fantastic bouncing feel and confidence

ALMOST FAMOUS SONG COMPETITION

Sweetheart Oh No! by Perry Thomas L. Artist Rogue Poet.

OK, things are livening up a bit in our competition. This track really surprised me with just how good it is - it's got a fantastic bouncing feel and confidence about it. It's a very fashionable sound too, a little Pete Doherty in the language and the slight melodic slur in the singing. I love the words, the delivery, the whole feel of this. At just over three minutes it's perfectly structured. A simple chorus, superb guitar playing, harmonica, organ. I wouldn't bat an eye if I heard that this band were being courted by the big record labels. This one's ready for the radio.

HOW TO ENTER: WRITE a song for Almost Famous and you could win rehearsal time at the Studio Rooms in Wyton and recording time at Fast Track studios in Wilburton to create a CD. Your song will be on a special promotional CD of the bands who make the shortlist.

There will be a promotion for you in Almost Famous and on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire where the winner will be interviewed by Jeremy Sallis who presents The Audio Files on Thursday evenings from 6pm.

All entries will be made available to download on The Hunts Post website to help get your music heard by as many people as possible. The songs will stay on the site from when they reach us to when we announce the winner in the summer.

The competition is open to all Huntingdonshire songwriters. All band entries must have at least one member living in Huntingdonshire to qualify. The judges will be the Almost Famous team.

To enter, email an MP3 of your song to almostfamouspage@googlemail.com along with the following information:

Name of the song, Full names of songwriters, Name of band or artist performing, Website address, Telephone contact number, Up-coming gig details, Background information on performers and writer including where they live, Photograph in sharp focus. We also need your permission to play the song on our website.

CHRIS BOLAND

NEWS: BETH WALTHEW RELEASES FREE DOWNLOADS

ACCLAIMED singer-songwriter Beth Walthew has launched her new website, and on the site there are free downloads of her latest material. Walthew, who started gigging last year, is currently recording her debut album, songs from which can be downloaded for free at www.bethwalthew.com . The soul singer can next be seen playing live at The Bath House (Benet Street, Cambridge) on Sunday, April 13 April.

RICHARD PAUL

WIN TICKETS FOR NIZLOPI

QURIKY folk duo Nizlopi return to Cambridge on Sunday, April 13 for a show at The Junction in support of their new album, Make It Happen. Almost Famous has one pair of tickets for the show to be won in by one lucky reader. To be in with a chance of winning the tickets to the show simply email the name of the band's new album to: almostfamouspage@googlemail.com Entries must reach us by Thursday, April 10.

CHRIS BOLAND

GIG OF THE WEEK: DANNY BRYANT @ WOODGREEEN, GODMANCHESTER

ON Friday (April 4) blues musician Danny Bryant playsat Woodgreen Animal Shelters, Godmanchester. First hailed as a young guitar prodigy Danny began playing aged 15, turning professional three years later. In the past decade, he has paid his dues clocking up endless miles of travelling and approximately two thousand shows around the world. He is now acknowledged in the business as one of the cream of the crop of this generation of blues artists.

In a career that has seen Danny perform alongside Joe Cocker, Jeff Beck, Greg Allman, Patti Smith, Buddy Guy, Peter Green, and former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor, Danny and his band have steadily carved a huge and loyal fan base around the world. Danny's gig on Friday is being organised by the team behind the Cambridge Rock Festival. Support comes from the Nigel Graham Blues Reaction.

INFORMATION: Danny Bryant and Nigel Graham Blues Reaction @ Woodgreen Animal Shelter, Friday, April 4. Doors 7.30pm, tickets £12 adv, £14 on the door, admission includes a curry supper.

RICHARD PAUL