YOUNG performers are being encouraged to come down from their bedrooms and take part in real life gigs.

Thanks to a £18,000 grant from the National Foundation for Youth Music, the Otley-based project is set to give up to 50 youngsters over the next few weeks the chance of performing in a real band.

Called The Supersonic Hoo-Ha Tour, young people from 12 to 18 years old will be encouraged to work together to create their own songs.

And with professional help and guidance they will then go on to perform at showcase gigs.

Otley-based Richard Sabey, who along with Nick Hall has been employed by the Otley Community Play Association to run the project, said it was aimed at young people of all levels of musical experience and ability.

He said: "What we really want to encourage is creating, rehearsing and performing music with others.

"In numerous houses everywhere there are young people singing enthusiastically into hairbrush microphones, playing instruments or filling notebooks with lyrics - but only by themselves in the privacy of their bedrooms.

"Or maybe a group of friends have started playing together in a band - but have had enough of plodding through old Nirvana songs in their parents garage."

He said often it was a lack of confidence or opportunity that stopped the young people going any further.

"Our aim is to get people out of the bedroom or garage and give them the belief to try singing or playing with others and making up their own music."

As well as the £18,000 grant, the project has also received £400 from Leeds City Council and £900 from the Leeds Breeze International Youth Festival.

Mr Sabey said the project, which was looking for up to 12 young people from 12 to 18 years old from the Otley area, would also include a day in a recording studio. Other groups of young people will be recruited via the Leeds and Bradford youth services.

The project will culminate in gigs and the production of CDs taking place at proper venues towards the end of July and early August.

Those taking part will also have the chance to perform at the prestigious Leeds Breeze festival.

With the project due to start in the middle of next month, Mr Sabey said anyone taking part would need to make a lot of effort.

"It will require a good deal of commitment and effort on part of the young people. but the rewards of the effort will be great and very enjoyable."

Anyone interested in getting involved should contact Richard Sabey on (01943) 466256 or (01943) 466782.