A NEW talent competition to give Dorset-based acts a chance to perform at this year's Bestival has been launched today.

Organisers are appealing to local unsigned bands, DJs and spoken word artists to enter the new “Invaders of the Future” competition.

The submission period is open for two weeks following which there will be a live final held at 60 Million Postcards in Bournemouth on May 11.

The Bestival team has joined forces with Bournemouth’s 'We Broke Free' to search for the most outstanding unsigned acts to perform at this year’s colour-themed event.

Bestival organiser Rob da Bank told the Echo: "Following the move to our brand-new home on the Lulworth Estate, this year we are looking specifically for Dorset-based acts and all entrants must be aged 18 or over.

"The winner of each of the three categories will play at Bestival 2017, making it the perfect chance to kick off a colourful career in the music industry."

The winner of the band category will also play on the We Broke Free stage at the Bournemouth University Summer Ball.

Head to bestiv.al/invaders2017 for full details of how to enter. The closing date for entries is Thursday April 20.

Finalists will be announced on Thursday, April 27 before the competition’s final at 60 Million Postcards in Bournemouth on Thursday, May 11, judged by 60 Million Postcards' Tor Byrnes, The Joiners' Ricky Bates and Bestival’s Rob da Bank.

Rob adds: " If performing is not your thing and you’d just like to check out all the fantastic new Dorset talent on show, entry to the final at 60 Million Postcards on May 11 is free, so please come along and support the artists."

This year's Bestival, boasts THE Pet Shop Boys have been announced as one of the headlines for this year’s Bestival.

The festival will move from the Isle of Wight to Lulworth Castle this year from September 7 to September 10.

Now the move has been approved the first four headliners as well as scores of other acts have been announced for the event.

The xx will be the first ever headliners on the main Castle Stage, with hip-hop “heroes” A Tribe Called Quest playing their last ever UK show to headline on the Saturday. Leaving electronic duo Pet Shop Boys to wrap up the proceedings on Sunday.

Singer Jamie T will be headlining the second stage, The Box, on Thursday night. And other acts set for the Castle Stage include Justice, Dizzee Rascal, and Soul II Soul. There will also be DJ sets from Annie Mac and Andy C.

Organisers have said Bestival 2017 is a “whole new world” to explore. To celebrate the move to Lulworth, two one-off ticket deals are also being offered for the next 48 hours only, until Saturday at 7am.