NEW bands will have a chance to showcase their talents at a new music event being launched at Skipton Town Hall.

Craven Emerging is the brainchild of Craven District Council and offers an opportunity for Craven's local emerging bands to perform right in the heart of Skipton.

Organisers hope the event will attract a large crowd and possibly record label representatives.

Councillor Simon Myers, lead member for Enterprising Craven, said: “This is a great opportunity for young bands to showcase their talents in front of an audience in a big venue.

“We know there is an extraordinary amount of musical talent within the district and look forward to seeing it on display. This event really could put young musicians on the road to stardom in the future.”

To enter, the majority of the band members must be aged under 30 and their music must fit within the categories of indie/alternative, punk, rock, grunge.

The band must be unsigned, with no association to any record label, and must also be available on March 24 for sound checks and a run through during the afternoon and evening.

Applications are free and forms can be downloaded from the cravendc.gov.uk/cravenemerging web page. The deadline for entries is February 19, and successful bands will be contacted before February 29.