THE End of the Road Festival, in the stunning surrounds of North Dorset, is offering local bands the chance to perform alongside some of the coolest names in alternative music in a fantastic competition.

The festival, in its third year, takes place in picturesque Larmer Tree Gardens from 12-14 September, and in conjunction with Arts Council England the organisers have devised this terrific opportunity for unsigned acts.

Under the banner Most Musical City, artists can register through the link below and specify which city they wish to represent, and by doing so they'll automatically be entered into a competition to play at the festival.

The cities available to stand for include Colchester and London, with Brighton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leicester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester also in the running.

Members of the public are also invited to vote for the Most Musical City until the 30 May deadline, after which judges will select three acts from the entries received - two to represent the top two cities in the vote, plus a third 'wild card'.

The line-up for the festival itself is shaping up as one of the best of the summer, in keeping with their ethos - genuinely independent, free of sponsorship and with the bands booked by the organisers themselves.

Here's how it looks at the moment - with four months to go and others to be added: Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Dirty Three, Kurt Wagner (Lambchop), Calexico, Mercury Rev, Low, Sun Kil Moon (Mark Kozelek/Red House Painters), A Hawk and A Hacksaw, American Music Club, Jeffrey Lewis, Two Gallants, Micah P Hinson, Billy Childish, and many, many more.

To register your band or to vote for the Most Musical City, go to www.mostmusicalcity.co.uk For ticket information - with weekend tickets including camping setting you back a very reasonable £105 (free for under fives) - log on to www.endoftheroadfestival.com