Local Music Scene

Leicester's Mr Romance Engelbert Humperdinck is in no doubt about Leicester's rich musical heritage.

He might also have instanced Cornershop, The Young Knives from Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Mark Morrison and others.

In addition the De Montfort Hall hosts the spectacularly successful annual Summer Sundae Festival and contains any number of venues great and small.

Vibrant

Peter Knott, Director of Arts and Development for the Arts Council in the East Midlands, fully agrees. "It's a really vibrant city... a creative city."

But it hasn't become these things without a long tradition of music-making.

Take the Dallas Boys, arguably Britain's first boy band and a genuine pop phenomenon of the 1950s. They were made in Leicester - the original and the best, according to their fans.

Englebert: A Leicester love legend

Listen: The City's Musical Heritage

Engelbert and Stan Jones of the Dallas Boys remember their early days with BBC Leicester's Tony Wadsworth. Listen to the interview...

Stan Jones sang with them from the start and Tony asked him about the early days.

"When I look back to the 50s... the only way to get known was serving an apprenticeship in the working men's clubs."

That is where many a promising performer started off, not least Engelbert himself.

Summer Sundae Leiceter's own festival

Listen: Promote Local Music

BBC Leicester's Tony Wadsworth talks to Peter Knott of the Arts Council. The Arts Council of England want to promote local music making...

The poll is being conducted by the Arts Council of England an Peter Knott explained the thinking behind it.

"It's all to get people interested in music. The musical heritage of this country is one of its main strengths.

"We want to get people not just listening but playing music.

"We have a scheme called "Take It Away"... there are interest free loans of up to £2,000 for buying an instrument."

This is all bound up with celebrating the localities of the country and their music.

Listen: Vote for Leicester!

BBC Leicester's Chris Baxter talks to Mary-Alice Stack of the Arts Council. Mary-Alice Stack encourages us to vote!

"We want people to think Leicester is as musically important as Liverpool." But is this in any way realistic?

Both Peter and Stan recognise that big metropolitan cities have an edge over a smaller place like Leicester. Neither has it spawned a distinctive "sound" like Liverpool. But Peter says dark horses can sometimes come through.

This is also the view of Mary-Alice Stack of the Arts Council. "You've got some fantastic talent coming through... We want people to go to the website to let us know all about what's happening now."

Vote Here!

Visit 'Most Musical City' website to vote...

"Whichever city wins the title will host a talent search for unsigned bands or solo performers. The winners will get to perform at the End of the Road Festival in September.

"It's a great opportunity for new talent to be seen on a festival stage," says Mary-Alice.