The Voice is holding an open audition in Edinburgh tonight

An open mic audition for The Voice UK is being held at the Mercat Bar in Edinburgh tonight.

The popular reality TV competition, now on STV, have been holding early auditions for their 2020 series in Scotland, and have already had hopefuls taking part in auditions in Haddington and Leith.

And tonight the Mercat Bar on West Maitland Street will be offering a unique opportunity to anyone who thinks they have what it takes to earn their spot on the show.

The Open Mic audition is being held between 8pm and 10pm, and with places being allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, performers are expected to start arriving from 6pm

A staff member at the Mercat said they were expecting a big crowd, with many of the regular performers at their weekly Open Mic event coming along for a shot at making it onto one of the biggest talent shows on British TV - and perhaps even singing their way to a record deal.

The lucky few who make it though auditions will get the chance to sing in front of - and maybe even work alongside - judges Olly Murs, Will.I.Am, Sir Tom Jones and Jennifer Hudson.

And the overall winning act will receive a record deal with Polydor Records.

All singers will need to prepare one or two songs with a backing track or with a musical instrument. Backing tracks will need to be on an electronic device, and you must be at least 16 years of age on or before the 1st October 2019 to take part.

Crowds of hopefuls have already packed out events at the Waterside Bistro in Haddington and Bar Brig on Leith Walk this week, as well as an audition session at Freak Music on Thistle Street.

And anyone unable to make it along tonight shouldn’t despair - another Open Mic event is being held in Glasgow’s Boteco Do Brasil, on the Trongate, at 8.45pm on Thursday 28 March. Again, the audition slots are being allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Future Auditions

CAMBRIDGEDate: Monday 1st April 2019 Name: Darry's Liquor LoftAddress: 2-4, King St, Cambridge CB1 1LNTime: 7pm - 11pmContact Info: First come first serve

BLACKPOOLDate: Monday 1st April 2019Name: Hogarths BarAddress: Hogarths Gin Palace, 22-28 Clifton St, Blackpool, FY1 1JPTime: 8pm OnwardsContact: First come first served

COLNEDate: Tuesday 2nd AprilName: The Live LoungeAddress: Albert Road, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 0AETime: 1pmContact Info: [email protected] (Email Subject: The Voice @ The Live Lounge)

CAMBRIDGEDate: Tuesday 2nd AprilName: The Cambridge Union @1815 barAddress: 9A Bridge Street, Cambridge, CA2 1UBTime: 3pm-6pmContact Info: [email protected] please put subject title as The Voice @ Cambridge Union

COLCHESTERDate: Tuesday 2nd April 2019 Name: Three Wise Monkeys Open Mic Address: 60 High St, Colchester CO1 1DNTime: 8pm - 11pm Contact Info: To book a slot please email: [email protected]

PRESTONDate: Tuesday 2nd April 2019Name: The Swan InnAddress: 18 Church St, Higher Walton, Preston PR5 4DYTime: 8pm OnwardsContact: First come first served

BLACKBURNDate: Wednesday 3rd AprilName: Blackburn Empire TheatreAddress: Aqueduct Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 4HTTime: 11AM - 1PMContact Info: [email protected] (Email Subject: BLACKBURN THEATRE SHOWCASE)

BLACKBURNDate: Wednesday 3rd April 2019Name: The Royal OakAddress: 2 Royal Oak Ave, Blackburn BB1 8QDTime: 8pm OnwardsContact: First come first served

LONDON Date: Wednesday 3rd April 2019 Name: The TroubadourAddress: 263-267 Old Brompton Rd, Earls Court, London SW5 9JATime: 7pm onwards Contact Info: First come first serve

NORWICHDate: Thursday 4th AprilName: Bedfords BarAddress: 1 Old Post Office Yard, Norwich NR2 1SLTime: 12:30 - 14:30Contact Info: [email protected]

NORWICHDate: Thursday 4th April 2019 Name: The Birdcage Address: 23 Pottergate, Norwich NR2 1DSTime: 3 - 5pm Contact Info: To book a slot please email: [email protected]

NORWICHDate: Thursday 4th April 2019 Name: The Walnut Tree Shades Address: Old Post Office Court, Norwich NR2 1NGTime: 7.30pm - 11pm Contact Info: To book a slot please email: [email protected]

LEEDSDate: Thursday 4th AprilName: The New ConservatoryAddress: Albion Place, Leeds, LS1 6JLTime: 7.30pm OnwardsContact: Message David on: 'Open Mic Night at The New Conservatory' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/openmicleeds

NEWCASTLEDate: Monday 8th April 2019 Name: Passing Clouds, Beers and BuskersAddress: 3-4, Bigg Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1UWTime: 7pm onwardsContact Info: Bruce Tate [email protected]

MIDDLESBROUGHDate: Tuesday 9th AprilName: Stockton Riverside CollegeAddress: Harvard Ave, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 6FBTime: 3:15pm-6:15pmContact Info: [email protected]

SUNDERLANDDate: Tuesday 9th AprilName: The Dun CowAddress: 9 High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 3HATime: 8pmContact Info: [email protected]

DURHAMDate: Wednesday 10th AprilName: Coho DurhamAddress: Freeman's Pl, Durham DH1 1SWTime: 5:30pmContact Info: [email protected]