THE Echo is challenging the area’s young music talent to show what its got at the new Echo Showcase nights on the last Tuesday of the month at Champions bar in Westbourne.

Providing a platform for emerging bands and artists to play on a purpose-built stage with a superb sound system, the free gigs are all about celebrating the raw fire and skill in the area’s young bands.

Finding a place to play that’s sympathetic to a band’s sound has hampered many a young act, so the Echo is working with Champions to give a helping hand to bands when they need it the most – right at the start.

Headlining the first Echo Showcase at Champions on Tuesday are Paint It Blue, the five-piece blues outfit that has been making waves locally for a few months.

Fronted by Hannah Robinson (vocals, guitar and percussion), Peter “Pedro” Quintin (guitar) and Ed Fish (harmonica), they are backed by a mature rhythm section of Ian Walker (bass) and Marcin Dyba (drums).

Their original songs reveal gospel, funk and British blues influences and are augmented by carefully chosen blues standards.

Nion Abeo were formed in early 2008 by Toby Fitton (vocals/guitar) and Loz Goodhand-Tait (bass/vocals). Drummer Adam Theobald completes the line up with the band’s songs fuelled by lyricist Toby’s ability to fuse emotion and melody with clean guitar riffs and a tight rhythm section. Post-rockers Saturday Sun have been inspired by the likes of Nick Drake, Oceansize and John Martyn with finger-style guitars and strong melodies. The band consists of Alex Hedley (vocals, guitar), Bill Merrick (guitar), Alec Harrison (bass) and Luke Kill (drums).

Completing the line up, Pure Explosion only got together this year and have developed their own unique sound of rock ’n’ roll-infused grunge-blues.

Known for their lively stage shows Pure Explosion are on a mission to prove rock ’n’ roll ain’t dead!