Unsigned post-rock band MinionTV are proving musicians really can get ahead themselves.

The Merseyside-based post-rock outfit have had one of their songs Battleships used in the latest Lexus car ad campaign, to advertise the new IS 250C model.

Its members include guitarists Stephen Johnston and Justin Bailey, Barry Fearns on keyboards, bass player Sion Keir and drummer Simon Monkhouse.

The five-piece instrumental band also had one of their songs Don't Burn The House Down used on the soundtrack to a US VH1 reality TV show called Sober House, which was about celebrities recovering from addiction.

They will also feature on the soundtrack of a forthcoming BBC4 documentary The Art Of Dying, in the autumn.

The band, which was set up by Justin and Stephen two years ago before the final line-up came together this year, is mainly instrumental. Although they confessed they were unsure as to how this would be received their determination seems to be winning the hearts of fans who have watched their live performances.

Angelic melodies that could be compared to bands such as Sigur Ros are mixed with thundering guitar riffs that show an evident Mogwai influence. This produces an experimental journey of highs and lows with a semblance to Brian Eno's work.

Band members Stephen and Barry have also organised their own gig night New Path, featuring MinionTV and some of their favourite local artists. It will take place at Leaf Tea Shop and Bar in Parliament Street, in Liverpool on Friday, August 28 at 7pm.

They are also playing the Mathew Street Fringe Festival in Liverpool on Sunday, August 30 of the Bank Holiday weekend.

Visit their website here

For those musicians looking to make it into the mainstream, auditions for Live and Unsigned 2010 start in January.

Live and Unsigned 2010 is a national competition, open to unsigned bands, vocal groups or solo acts.

In the first stage, musicians will have to go through an audition, playing a two minute piece in front of judges. The best ones will be selected by judges to go through to live shows and the regional finals.

The top acts from the regional finals will go on to compete in the national final at a major venue, where the winner will receive a recording contract.

Auditions will take place in: Aldershot (near Guildford), Bedford (near Milton Keynes/Cambridge), Brighton, Bristol, Fareham (near Southampton/Portsmouth), Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Leamington Spa (near Birmingham/Coventry), Liverpool, Basildon, Essex, Hayes and Sheffield.

Dates of the auditions will be released in September.

For more information about the competition visit the website here.

A progressive, electronically charged and largely intrumental set-up may not be what you would expect from a band with such a nice name as A Cup Of Tea.

The band really does offer a new blend that will wet the tastebuds of fans who like electronica synthesisers and vocoder-style voice sampling.

Based in Liverpool and Gloucester, the band's three members are Stu Cook, Gary Salomon and Joshua Davenport, who somehow manage to produce an "organic" sound through "digital music".

In a style not unlike Aphex Twin with a hint of Múm , their guitar melodies are layered with digital drums and a variety of electronics.

Almost paradoxically their name is a celebration of the traditional English beverage and resulted from the copious amounts they consumed while creating their first tunes.

They believe it is best served from a pot, blending two regular tea bags with an earl grey variety. As a great advocate of tea myself I prefer to stick to one variety and not to mix drinks.

Among their notable tunes are the chilled out Imagine This Was All Purple, and Blue Red Box Black not to mention Everything Is Invisible, which is reminiscent of Radiohead at their most experimental.

For those looking for something a little different on Merseyside's music scene and who would like to sample a live show consisting mainly of laptops and synthesisers, the band are playing Korova in Liverpool on Friday, July 17 at 8pm.

To hear their music visit their MySpace here.

Awards are no longer just for those artists who have been signed up to a record label.

Unsigned bands now have the chance to become the 2009 winners of The Peoples Music Awards.

Musicians are allowed to enter one song into the awards and can upload their music through The Peoples Music Awards website.

There are three rounds of voting before a winner will be announced at an awards ceremony next year.

Round 1 is The People's Vote, which is running until August 20, 2009, where members of the public can visit the site and vote for their favourite artists.

In the second round, from August 21 to September 10, music industry professionals will judge the top 10 songs from the first round.

The final round, from September 11 to November 6, will see members of the public casting the final vote on the overall winners.

There will be winners in various categories and they will get to play live at the awards ceremony next year.

It aims to showcase unsigned talent, give bands exposure as well as experience of playing at a music awards ceremony and offer them feedback from music professionals.

For more information visit the website here

I see that a digital radio station, which plays music by only unsigned artists, has been launched this month.

The DAB station called Amazing Radio plays music that has been uploaded to the website amazingtunes.com by unsigned acts.

Artists who upload their music on to the website receive 70% of any revenue made from people downloading their songs.

A new company called The Amazing Media Group, whose founder Paul Campbell used to make radio and TV programmes, is behind the idea.

The radio station is interactive, meaning it allows users who are signed up to the website to create playlists and their favourite artists will have a chance of being played on the radio.

Listeners wanting to hear only unsigned bands or musicians wanting to upload their music can visit the website here.

With a name that doesn't easily roll off the tongue, These Matches Won't Light In The Damp, is not your average unsigned solo artist.

Real name, Dominic P Miller, the musician offers a dark, acoustic guitar ensemble with a finger-picking style similar to Jose Gonzales and a melancholic vocal, evidently influenced by Elliott Smith as well as Joy Division.

The artist is based in Kent and the project came to life at the end of January, resulting in the EP.

Among his influences are Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor as well as Slowdive and if this is your kind of music, this New Age Ambient offering could be for you.

The new EP, Throw My Ashes Into The Fire, comprises a set of ten accoustic songs. One of favourites on there is I'll Make You Love Me, which combines a haunting voice mixed with a fervent finger-picking style. The eerie final song of the EP, End Days, is also worth a listen.

To listen to the music of These Matches Won't Light In The Damp visit the MySpace page here

There are so many unsigned bands out there who are busy working hard in their practice rooms and know they have a talent but are so far undiscovered or are battling against conventions of the mainstream music scene.

Well this is the place to allow us to listen and enjoy your music.

I'm trawling through endless MySpace pages in search of some hidden musical gems out there and anyone who would like to by my friend can find me here

I have even mastered modern technology and set up a Twitter account so I can follow you talented people.

For those on Twitter follow me here.

Local musician Pete Rimmer has started a folk show on Southport Community Radio.

Wake Up Sunday features news from the world of folk as well as interviews and performances from local folk bands.

It's on for the next 3 Sundays at 10am on 87.7fm and also on www.radiosouthport.com.

One of my favourite rising bands of 2008 has announced a co-headlining tour.

Tonight is Goodbye and Attack! Attack! have joined forces for a 2009 UK Tour starting at O2 Academy 2 Newcastle on Saturday 21st February and ending at Southampton Talking Heads on Saturday 28th February.

They appear in Liverpool on February 24.

Southport Theare is to host an evening of swing - with a festive theme - on Novermber 13.

Following the enormous success and popularity of Legends of Swing at theatres throughout the UK, and the revival of swing music, Eureka Productions has created a brand new show especially for Christmas.

Christmas Crooners features many of the Christmas favourites of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and 'ol blue eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.