Don’t miss The One! Young bands competing tonight in Burgess Hill

The event is hosted at The Martlets Hall, operated by Freedom Leisure.

“We have a superb line up of young local talent for the final of The One: the semi-finals were absolutely excellent and we have a treat in store when these youngsters perform,” says The One organiser Robert Eggleston from Snowdrop Music.

The finalists were chosen from two hotly contested semi-finals and the competition in the 11-16 category was so fierce that the judges increased the number of finalists in that section from four to six.

The bands performing in the different age categories are Thunder Lightnin’, Fleet, Catching Mangoes, Protest, Konfuzion and Petrichor (11-16); and Don’t Speak, Nothing to Lose, Tusk and Wax Jackets (17-21).

Singers Oliver Spackman, Amy Lawrence, Freya Morris and Madie Leeper go head to head in their 11-16 category, while Bethany Miall, Claire Lynch, Miah Neale and Freya Jefferies compete in the over 17s.

The judges will be joined at the final by Tim French MBE who has over 20 years’ experience promoting events in Mid Sussex and Rosie Langhorn (ex Legs and Co & Guys and Dolls) who will present the event.

The prizes will be presented by Phil Sumner from indie band, British Sea Power.

The bands and singers will compete in front of the judges and audience, who each have 50 per cent of the votes.

The prize winners in each category will have the chance to record an eight-track studio album and be invited to perform at three local live gigs including a showcase at The Haunt in Brighton and supporting Motown Band, No Town Like Motown, in Burgess Hill.

Tickets for The One final cost £4 (£3 concessions) and are available now online at www.freedom-leisure.co.uk, by calling 01444 242888 or directly from the Martlets’ box office.

See next Thursday’s Middy for full details of winners and pictures from the night.