FORGET the X Factor; for the ultimate talent contest, you’ve got to go underground. Literally.

Oxford’s subterranean hangout The Cellar, tonight hosts the Oxford heat of the UK’s coolest live music face-off.

Called the Red Stripe Music Award, the competition – live music’s answer to the Mercury Music Prize – offers a showcase to some fine local talent, who compete for a coveted award, and the chance to win slots for a clutch of hot gigs and festivals.

Tonight’s show sees a combination of loved and undiscovered artists, with sets by instrumentalist heroes The Rock of Travolta; former Sextodecimo bassist Humphrey ‘Huck’ Astley’s mellower effort Huck and the Handsome Fee; Oxford/Cornish/Isle of Wight band Gunning for Tamar; and hotly-tipped songwriter Lauren Bruce.

Now in its fourth year, the Red Stripe Music Award this year attracted more than 1,500 bands and artists – with 150 bands selected to play at 25 regional gigs across the kingdom. The finalists will perform at a play-off in London in front of a panel of judges, including Elbow’s Guy Garvey.

The winning band also gets to grab a load of Fender kit and Merc clothing, as well as hours of free consultancy with a team of music industry professionals who will advise on how to get signed and hit the big time.

As an incentive to get down to the venue, budding music journos are being encouraged to capture footage of the gig, interview a band or review the show and upload it to Red Stripe’s Fan TV on muzu.tv/redstripe If your clip makes it onto the main player on Red Stripe’s home page – then expect a nice surprise in the form of 24 cold cans of Jamaican lager!