A new television series beginning tonight will follow 13 young people from Derry as they take their first steps to possible musical stardom.
The young wannabes.
Music City, starting on BBC One NI at 7.30pm, with a further two episodes being made available online, joins the group as they attempt to make their musical dreams come true.
The 13 wannabes, who are all part of the Derry’s City Of Culture Music Promise education project, range from singers and DJs to pianists, drummers and harpists.
Pop star Katy B, known for hits such as Broken Record, Lights On and 5AM, will be their mentor for the five-part series.
Aided by Derry-based singer and guitarist Glenn Rosborough and local harpist and music teacher Jenny Grant, she puts her experience in the music industry as a successful performer and hit-maker to good use to set each young person a challenge to help take them to the next step of their musical journey and bring their talents to the fore.
Katy B says: ‘I’m so glad that I was given this opportunity to work with such talented young people. They all rose to the challenges they were given with such enthusiasm and bravery and I’m so excited for their futures that lie ahead, Derry is such an inspiring city! It now feels like my second home!’
In the first programme of the series, features song-writer Hannah, 15, who performs to Katy B in her bedroom; singer and multi-instrumentalist Micaela, 15, who is set the challenge of performing to an audience of 2,000 people at a City Of Culture event; and singer Eibhin, 15, who is given the opportunity of performing with Phil Coulter on his song Brand New Day.
Nerves are tested and friendships are made but will a star be born in Music City?
Des Henderson, director and producer of Music City, said the series offered a view of the City Of Culture through the eyes of the young participants.
He added: “The Music Promise project was set up with the aim of building a musical legacy from the year of culture through these young people.
“We got to work with these talented musicians, some of whom were experienced and others who were making music for the first time.
“The beauty of the programme was watching each of them grow as Katy B, Glenn and Jenny mentored them and the opportunities they were given were parallel to anywhere. It was great to follow the journeys of this immensely talented group and I can’t wait to see where they go in the future and if they become part of Derry’s legacy.”
