What's on in Cardiff?

Winners of O’Neill’s national music competition donate £2,000 prize to UK youth charity

After being crowned the overall winner of a nation-wide music competition held by Irish pub brand O’Neill’s, Surrey band Forty45 has generously donated its £2,000 Rosetti music equipment prize to children’s charity Youth Music.

Forty45 beat off stiff competition from hundreds of acts from across the UK to win the O’Neill’s contest, which saw them receive the £2,000 of music equipment. The band has chosen to donate their prize in the form of eight electric guitars to Youth Music, which transforms the lives of disadvantaged children using music.

Scott Perham, band member of Forty45 said: "We are delighted to have won the O'Neill's showcase 2010 and would like to thank everyone who has supported us and we look forward to playing at O'Neill's venues for many years to come.

“We are all lovers of music and would like to give the same opportunity to young people who may not have had the chances we did. Because of this, we have taken great pleasure in donating the £2000 prize to the national music charity Youth Music."

Youth Music believes that through music making, any young person - regardless of their background - should have opportunities to discover their creativity and fulfill their potential.

Grania Hyde-Smith, spokesperson for Youth Music said: “Youth Music is extremely grateful to Forty45 for their generous donation.

“Thanks to O’Neill’s and Rosetti, we were able to distribute eight Adam Black Libra electric guitars to several of our Youth Music Action Zones, based in areas of economic deprivation and give the kids a great early Christmas present.

“Music4U in Humber, Pie Factory in Thanet, The Hive in Stafford and CYMAZ in Cornwall are just some of the lucky centres to benefit some of the most disadvantaged young people in their area with access to these guitars through workshops and performance opportunities.”

Bjorn Gladwell, spokesperson for Rosetti said: “It’s always satisfying to see hardworking bands being rewarded, and for this reason we were delighted to be involved in the O’Neill’s Playlist from the very beginning. The donation to Youth Music means that we’re able to spread our appreciation even further, and we’re delighted that our guitars will be given such valuable meaning to inspire young budding musicians. “

The Showcase competition was launched earlier this year as part of O’Neill’s brand new live music initiative, the O’Neill’s Playlist, which provides acts from across the UK with the opportunity to be seen and reviewed by pub managers from across the brand’s 62 locations.

Forty45 was one of 25 bands selected from the Playlist, on which more than 650 bands registered following its launch in June, to take part in a series of music Showcases across the country. Having won the London heat at O’Neill’s Soho, Forty45’s video went up against four other acts – Life & Soul, Blues Boy Dan, Groovy Revolution and Smokin’ Aces - on the O’Neill’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/oneillspubs, where the public then voted for their favourite.

Musicians interested in playing in O'Neill's and signing up to The Playlist, which continues to gather momentum, can create a profile at www.oneills.co.uk/bandregistration.

For more information visit www.oneills.co.uk or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/oneillspubs.