SALISBURY singer Laura Goldthorp will be taking to the stage at this year's Larmer Tree Festival after winning a competition to find the best unsigned acts.

She was selected as one of the winners of the festival's Breakthrough Music Awards after a live final in front of a panel of industry experts on Friday, April 20.

Portsmouth-based Arcade Hearts were also crowned winners.

The competition saw six unsigned artists take to the stage at the Winchester Gate in Salisbury to battle it out for a chance to win a slot alongside First Aid Kit, Jake Bugg and many more at Larmer Tree Festival 2018.

The judges tasked with choosing the two winners were Larmer Tree founder James Shepard, assisted by creative director Sarah Dennehy and James Tailby from Naim Records.

Laura was overwhelmed with the accolade, having attended Larmer Tree Festival for many years. She said: “It really hasn’t sunk in yet. Larmer Tree is my favourite festival, and the artists who play there have done so much to inspire my music. The standard was so high, and everyone who performed is definitely going to go far.”

And Arcade Hearts, who have just started a major UK tour, said: “We’re ecstatic. To win a competition outside of our hometown is amazing and the crowd had great vibes. It was such an eclectic lineup and definitely anyone’s game, so we’re so happy to have won and be heading for Larmer Tree this summer.”

The prestigious prize will see winners perform on-stage at this year’s festival, sharing the bill with a host of internationally renowned artists, as well as a day recording with Naim Records.

Already announced for the Festival are First Aid Kit, Jake Bugg, Public Service Broadcasting, Nadine Shah, Tune-Yards, Susanne Sundfør, Songhoy Blues, Nick Mulvey, Ibibio Sound Machine and many more.

The 2018 Festival will celebrate the 100 years’ of women’s suffrage with an all-female Saturday main stage, and guest curation by Tune-Yards’ Merrill Garbus.

The Breakthrough Music Awards 2018 were presented in association with Salisbury Live.