Singer songwriter Ed Sheeran won in 2008.

The search is on for the region’s hottest new music acts with the launch of the 2012 The Next Big Thing competition.

Brit Award winner Ed Sheeran – who performed at the 2012 Olympics’ Closing Ceremony at the weekend – is among the previous The Next Big Thing winners along with Norwich-based group The Kabeedies who have since played at Glastonbury and had their music featured in a worldwide advertising campaign.

Now emerging musicians have chance to follow in their footsteps and enter the eighth The Next Big Thing competition which is being run by Norwich-based Future Radio in association with Outline Magazine and OPEN.

The winner’s prize will include a recording session at OPEN studios where their track can be made into a 2D and 3D video, a studio session at Future Studios, and a photo-shoot from JMA Photography.

Future Radio station manager Terry Lee said: “The Next Big Thing is established as the best up and coming music competition in the eastern region, with a fantastic list of previous winners.

“Ed Sheeran, who won in 2008, has gone on to win two Brit Awards, and he still plays the guitar he won as a prize in his live performances today.”

Acts – which must be based in Norfolk or Suffolk – have until September 24 to enter online at www.outlineonline.co.uk/news/enter-the-next -big-thing-competition

OPEN, in Norwich, will host the semi-finals in October and the final on November 11.

For more visit www.futureradio.co.uk/nextbigthing