A SINGER and songwriter is competing for the chance to perform in a national music festival at the O2 arena, after making it through the regional heats.

Jazz and soul songstress Angie A, aka 32-year-old Angela Anuforo from East Finchley, was one of eight solo acts to make it through to the regional finals on March 28, and will now go on to perform in the area finals at the Beck Theatre in Hayes on May 2.

If she makes it through that heat, the next step will be the Live and Unsigned festival at the O2 on July 10, competing against acts from all over the country for a recording and management contract with Future Music and £30,000 towards releasing a debut single.

Angie A said: "I have looked back at my performance and I really want to raise my game even more, and I hope it will be enough to get through. The judges are going to be a lot stricter and it is going to be a lot tougher in the area finals because I know the calibre is high.

"I am excited but I have got to keep my feet on the ground. I really hope I can get through because I want to get my songs out there and recognised."

Angie added: "Even if I don't win the big prize, to me there are a lot of good things you can get from it anyway if you put the work in and enjoy it, and I am trying to enjoy the moment."

The vocalist, who lists Amy Winehouse, Gabriella Cilmi and Corinne Bailey Rae among her influences, is planning to perform an original song about knife crime called What's Going On at the next show.

She sang Nina Simone's Feeling Good along with her own composition Free in the previous round.

The judging panel in the area final stage will include Radio 1's Annie Nightingale, DJ and presenter Ras Kwame, and record producer Steve Lyon.

Tickets for the shows are available from www.liveandunsigned.uk.com.