THE six shortlisted acts in The Northern Echo's competition to find the region's top pop and rock acts have been announced.

More than 30 entries were received for The Big Chance, a star search run by the newspaper's music website, Revolution.

Three acts in each of the genres will play before an audience at Darlington College of Technology on Thursday, June 6.

Voting will also take place online, at www.thisisrevolution.co.uk, starting today.

The three rock acts are The Shining, from Darlington, who entered Get It Together; Pincer, from Whitburn, near Sunderland, with Cocaine Girl; and Jibe, from Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, Teesside, with For A Girl.

In the pop section, the shortlisted acts are all from County Durham.

They are Ringo Levio, from Escomb, Bishop Auckland, with Experienced; Sarah Jane Watson, from Barnard Castle, with Angel Eyes; and Northern Haze, from Witton Gilbert, with Malibu and Lemonade.

At the concert, each act will perform three songs.

The winning act from each category will receive prizes including a recording session and their compact disc on sale in top named outlets.

Revolution assistant Michael Atkinson said yesterday: "There were a large number of entries which showed a great deal of talent and potential, and finding the final three from each category was a difficult task for the judges.

"If the tracks entered by these six finalists are anything to go by, the concert should be a great night of North-East rock and pop."

Free tickets for the show, which starts at 6.30pm, are available from the venue, the V Shop in Darlington and Durham, Virgin in Middlesbrough and The Northern Echo's head office, in Priestgate, Darlington.