Huw Stephens and O2 Think Big team up to ‘build a band'

Huw Stephens – DJ, presenter and advocate of new music – has teamed up with O2 Think Big to offer up to 10 talented young musicians from different backgrounds across the UK the platform to shine by making them a part of a new band that will perform later on this year.

The Build a Band project is open to any vocalist or instrumentalist, DJ or MC between the ages of 16 and 25 with raw talent and a determination to succeed. To be in with a chance of becoming part of this grassroots Think Big band, Stephens is asking young people to send an audition video via the O2 Think Big website by 13 September 2012.

The Think Big band and tour are designed to celebrate and raise awareness among young people of the support available and the talent that already exists.

The new band members will work with Stephens and a team that includes a songwriter and producer. Together they will create and produce an original piece of music that reflects everything that is great about British musical culture and its social diversity, while learning life skills that will stand them in good stead for the future.

The band will hit the road in October and November and perform as part of the O2 Think Big tour. The series of gigs, put on by young people for young people, will take place in Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham and London, and will enable these 10 young stars the opportunity to perform alongside one of the biggest acts in the UK.

Stephens said: “There are so many talented young people across the UK who don’t have the chance to showcase their musical ability. That’s why I’m working with Think Big to find new talent and offer them the opportunity to shine.

“I want to hear from every kind of musician and vocalist out there. It doesn’t matter if you play the drums or harp, are a DJ or a beat boxer. At this stage, we’re open to anyone and it is so easy to apply, I want to hear from you all.

“There is so much untapped talent in this country and not just music-related. Schemes like O2’s Think Big exist to provide youngsters with the opportunities to show their creativity.”

The O2 Think Big tour is a celebration of the 2,000 youth projects that O2 Think Big has helped to fund and make happen across theUK over the past two years.

The shows themselves will be organised and run by young people who volunteered to take part in its creation – from lighting and sound to make-up and engineering. Every role on the tour will be performed by a young person.

For further information and to submit audition videos visit: www.o2thinkbig.co.uk