A singer from Easton is hoping to hit the big time with her new band.

Shiama Young, lead vocalist in The Stow, is going the right way to fulfilling her dream as her band has just been named best unsigned act in a major competition.

Shiama, 24, went to May Park Primary and Colston Girls School before studying a music industry management degree at Buckinghamshire University.

Afterwards, she settled in Lewisham, south London, and only joined The Stow in May after singing backing vocals since January.

The Stow say that they "are ready to change your perception of what a band should sound like", and cite their musical influences as Jimi Hendrix, Jay-Z "and everything in between".

This week, The Stow were named best unsigned act in the UK by Metro newspaper. As part of their prize, they will be supporting VV Brown on her upcoming tour, which comes to the Thekla on November 14.

Shiama said she was very excited to be performing in her home town of Bristol. She said: "I come back to Bristol as often as I can because my whole family lives here and I can't wait to play at the Thekla."

Shiama's father Dudley Murchinson is the owner of Genesis Muzik & Clothing on the Stapleton Road. Her mother, Asher Craig, works for the Learning and Skills Council. Shiama, also known as Shi, has four younger sisters, Khadijah, Zakiyah, Sasha and Martika, and one younger brother, Malik.

She has been singing ever since she can remember and when she was younger used to regularly enter the St Paul's talent show.

She said: "It has always been an ambition of mine to get into the music industry and winning the competition is massive for the band. It's the only thing I've wanted to do for a long time. It means such a lot to win and to go on tour with VV Brown will be amazing. It's such a fantastic opportunity for us. Singing live is my favourite thing to do."