8 local acts make Searchlight semi-finals

Eight local musical acts are among the 545 bands and performers who have been named semi-finalists in the CBC Searchlight Contest.

CBC Music and Radio One have teamed up for the nation-wide talent search that is one-part showcase and one-part contest. Musicians entered their music in the contest, and fans were invited to vote online for their favourite act.

More than 3,300 acts entered Searchlight.

Local acts still in the running include: Alex Patterson, Carden Cove, Hello Holiday, Mike Charette, Murder Murder, On Tap, Swan Song and The Almighty Rhombus.

Sudbury native Shawn Brady, who lives in the Toronto area, is also one of the semi-finalists.

Voting continues until 3 p.m. ET on April 20 to decide the top 10 from each region (except Iqaluit, which will advance five finalists). There's 26 acts from Northern Ontario in the semi-finals.

On April 21 the finalists will be revealed, and be one step from making the national round judged by Dan Boeckner, Jenn Grant and Saukrates.

To vote, Google “Searchlight contest” and search for your favourite act.