Bradford International Festival is gearing up for the 2003 Fusion Awards following the huge success of the event last year.

Four overall winners of this year's awards will play live on stage at the Bradford International Mela, the largest in Europe, attracting more than 120,00 people.

The Mela will round off this year's Festival, which runs from June 12 to 22 and which organisers promise will be bigger and better than ever.

The Bradford Inter-national Mela, which will take place in Peel Park on June 21 and 22, attracts a large attendance from the music industry.

Eight finalists from the Fusion Awards will have the opportunity to perform in front of a panel of judges who will select the four winners.

The awards are open to both signed and unsigned artists and earn their title from the sole criterion that the music must fuse together various forms such as voice, traditional instruments, dance tracks, hip-hop and guitar.

The 2002 New Fusion Awards attracted hundreds of musicians from across the UK.

Finalists Mirium Lamen, Imperial Leisure, Kismet and O.I.C. performed in front of judges including Ministry of Sound, Dhol Foundation, Oriental Arts and Continental Drift.

Tony Lawson, of I.O.C, who won the award, said: "The award has moved my career on tenfold. The performance was in itself a great experience and really helped to raise my profile outside my own patch, Liverpool.

"Since winning the Fusion Award I've been featured on BBC Radio 1Xtra and I'm now working with some established London-based artists who I've respected and admired for ages. The Fusion Awards can really make a difference to your career."

Anyone who wants to enter the awards should contact Bradford Inter-national Festival office on 01274 722272 or visit the website on www.bethere 2003.com