Chance for bands to get on the HUB; 08 Culture Diary.

Byline: Philip Key 

THE Liverpool Culture Company has begun a search for some of the hottest bands to play at this year's urban youth festival.

HUB, the biggest free festival of its kind, is held every year at Otterspool Promenade.

This year, 20,000 people are expected over the weekend of May 17 and 18, when there will be BMX bikes, skate-boarding, break-dancing, graffiti art, and music.

Organisers are asking youthorientated bands to send in demos. They will join confirmed headliner Shlomo, one of the best human beatboxers (someone who makes percussive sounds with a voice and a microphone).

Event organiser SusanWhitehead explained: "Whether you're rappers or rockers, speed metallers or soul divas, we want to hear from you.

"Judges will be looking for acts with heaps of energy, style and passion to play at what promises to be a wicked weekend."

Cllr Warren Bradley, deputy chairman of the Culture Company, said it would be a "fantastic" opportunity for bands to perform live.

Bands have until February 25 to apply with a biography, completed artists' contact form and a demo.

Application forms can be downloaded from www.liverpool08.com/hub or requested by emailing marketing@liverpool 08.com, typing in HUB as the subject.