The second annual Ritchie Blackmore Protégé Shred Off competition has been announced. Video entries will be accepted from March 20th at 12:01AM through April 7th, at 11:59PM. Each entry must feature the guitarist playing a Blackmore-esque lead guitar arrangement over a backing that is similarly in a Deep Purple, Rainbow, and/or Blackmore's Night vein way. No actual covers of Blackmore's lead guitar solos or songs will be allowed into the competition. Andy DiGelsomina, the composer-guitarist for the Wagnerian opera metal project Lyraka will be judging the competition again, along with Keith Langerman, the owner of

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