Huw Stephens And O2 Think Big

Build-a-band project announced...

Huw Stephens hooks up with ‘O2 Think Big’ in a quest to form a band of ten young and aspiring musical talents.

New music advocate Huw Stephens has teamed up with O2 ‘Think Big’ for a project that aims to find and develop a band of ten young, talented musicians. The project is called ‘Build-a-band’ and is aimed at anyone aged 16-25, with a genuine love and passion for making music.

The project aims to cobble together a brand new, culturally diverse band, boasting an array of musical talent, from all corners of the UK. Anyone interested in entering the competition can upload videos of themselves showcasing their talents onto O2 Think Big’s YouTube channel. The contest has already begun and contestants have until September 13th to show off their skills.

Huw, Chris Crichlow- a former participant in Think Big, and a various other contributers will spend the coming weeks reviewing the entries, which can be viewed by all at o2thinkbigband.com.

Following the selection process, the winners will have the unique opportunity to record material together, under the guiding hand of Huw and a specially selected team of producers and singer-songwriters, before commencing a series of live gigs held at O2 academies up and down the British Isles. The gigs, kicking off in late October, are to be headlined by existing, yet-to-be-announced bands, whilst the build-a-band recruits will be given the task of supporting their esteemed cohorts.

“The whole thing is a celebration of what ‘Think Big’ has achieved so far really”, Huw told Clash. “It’s purely about raw talent, and nurturing it with the added bonus of creating opportunities that otherwise may never have come around”.

Chris Crichlow, now a project manager for ‘Think Big’ after successfully completing one of the programmes himself last year, insists that absolutely anyone with a serious interest in composing music, no matter how obscure, should enter into the competition: “Anything goes. Electric violinists, electric harpists, harmonica players, whatever! Whoever enters will be seen by every judge and considered on a completely subjective basis”.

‘Think Big’ was launched last year and supports youngsters across the UK, by providing a platform to help transform their creativity and passions into projects that benefit their local communities through cash grants, support and mentoring.

Words by Josh Taylor

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