Digicel Rising Stars kicks off its all new season search for talent this weekend with back-to-back auditions tomorrow and Sunday in May Pen and Portmore, respectively. First stop for the Digicel Rising Stars team is in Clarendon with auditions in May Pen at Leiba's Gas Station tomorrow. This is the third year the Digicel Rising Stars team is making the trek to May Pen as the venue was brought on stream in 2009 and according to producer Sharon Schroeter, "May Pen has proven to showcase incredible talent year after year."

Clarendonians are extremely proud of their contribution to the Jamaican musical landscape with artistes such as Toots Hibbert, Freddie McGregor, Cocoa Tea, Everton Blender and Barrington Levy all hailing from the parish. But the parish also boasts two recent successful Digicel Rising Stars contestants: Jodian Pantry, who placed second in 2007 and last year's winner, Dalton Harris.

The Digicel Rising Stars team will then roll into the Sunshine City on Sunday, May 22, stopping at a new venue this year, the Portmore Town Centre. Portmore auditions have been consistent in unearthing top Digicel Rising Stars' talent. Most recently, the Portmore auditions introduced last year's second-place winner, Camaley.

The selection process is all new this year as the producers and judges will be the ones picking the 12 finalists who make it to the live stage. This means that the public will not begin voting until live shows begin on July 3.

Since the final 12 will be chosen from all five auditions, the persons who make it through the preliminary round in May Pen and Portmore will then move on to Star Registration where they will be video recorded. These videos will then be viewed by a panel which include the two resident judges, Bambino and Tessanne Chin, alongwith the show's producers.

Also for the first time in Digicel Rising Stars' history, scouts will be handing out DRS Fast Passes which allows persons to bypass the preliminary rounds at auditions and go straight into Star Registration. Scouts will visit karaokes and recording studios around the island in search of talent.

Contestants are reminded that auditions will run from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., however, the Rising Stars team is urging contestants to come out early as registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. Contestants are also reminded that auditions are open to Jamaicans 16 years and older who are not currently signed to a management or recording contract.