SIX bands from the North-East are in the running to be the wild card act to open the Main Stage at the Middlesbrough Music Live festival on Bank Holiday Monday.

The public will have the final say on who plays before a crowd of thousands on a stage that also boasts chart stars Reef and Junior Senior.

Organisers of the festival invited local musicians to submit their demo CDs and tapes at the town's HMV store.

Almost 100 entries were received, and they have whittled them down to six, which can be heard on the official Music Live website www.middlesbroughmusiclive.co.uk, where music fans can vote for their favourite.

The finalists are Middlesbrough glam-poppers Amsterdam Film Company; Guisborough rock trio The Spunk Trucks; funky guitar band Rosla; Middlesbrough punk-metallers The F; Redcar indie stars Cellar Door; and epic Billingham quartet The Hayze.

Voting is open until midnight tomorrow, with the winner announced on Wednesday.