They came from miles around to show off their finely-honed acts – performances which took weeks of rehearsal, all for one moment that could set them on a path of glory.

The nine performers – who included singers, a guitarist and an indie band between the ages of 15 and 67 – had the 100-strong crowd cheering and whooping as they belted out hits from 1950s teen idol Bobby Darin to current punk rocker Pink.

After more than two and a half hours of music, there was a long nervous wait as the judges agonised over who to put through to the second round.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of nail-biting, Charli Parsons, Sophie Warren, Ky Underhill, Rue Smith and Last Orderz were chosen as the best performers from this first heat.

Two of the acts unfortunately pulled out before the heat. Kiera-Marie Somers, 19, from Emersons Green, fell ill, while nerves got the better of 14-year-old Hollie Birchenough, from Knowle.

But Deb Dyer, the competition's organiser and manager of the Fry Club, said she was astounded by the talent on show.

She said: "We have been running Search for a Star for a long time now, and every year the performances we see seem to get better and better.

"Every one of the acts gave it their all, and for a first heat it went amazingly well.

"What was nice was seeing so many friends and family who turned out to support them."

"Having someone in the audience rooting for you all the way makes a real difference to them, and it spurred them on to help them really shine.

"Once again we had a huge age range out there performing, from teenagers like Shelley Leggett and Chelsea Saroe right up to Michael Pring, who is 67.

"It just goes to show that there are talented people of all ages, and it is great to see them on stage here giving it their all and raising the roof.

"The judges had a really tough time working out who to put through. It's not easy making a decision like that when there are so many talented performers to choose from, and congratulations to everyone who performed."

First be called out to go through was Charli Parsons, 16, who travelled in from Moreton-in- Marsh in the Cotswolds.

With a voice that dripped rich with honey, she effortlessly breezed her way through Norah Jones's lounge-room ballad I Don't Know Why, and drew endless cheers from the audience when she sang There Are Worse Things I Could Do, Rizzo's poignant reflection on her situation from the musical Grease.

Afterwards, she said: "I wasn't too nervous up there. My knees went a bit when I first got on stage, but I tried to use it to channel my energy.

"I think it went really well. It was the best I have sung the second song, and I have never sung I Don't Know Why in competition before, so I am pretty pleased.

"I am really excited to get through, and am now I'm looking forward to the next round."

Next through was Sophie Warren, a sales assistant from Patchway.

The 18-year-old, who has been taking part in the competition since she was 12, raised the roof when she sang Shout, by Lulu, and Sway by the Pussycat Dolls.

She said: "I thought it went pretty well, but am surprised I got through because I thought I was showing how nervous I was.

"I was nervous in the first song, but was fine by the second one. I could see the judges and a few people in the crowd at the front, which made it a bit easier."

Third to go through after dazzling the audience was guitarist Ky Underhill.

While most Search for a Star contestants look to the charts and their record collections when choosing what to perform, Ky went a bit further back in time to find his inspiration for his first solo – to the late 18th century, and Mozart's 25th Symphony in G Minor.

Ky, a 16-year-old John Cabot Academy pupil from Hanham, looked like a rock star through as he immersed himself in his music, and not even losing a cable from his amplifier could stop him showing the crowd how a real expert plays as he played an incredible version of Joe Satriani's 1987 Surfing With The Alien.

He said: "It feels pretty good to get through. I got to the semi-finals and got knocked out before, so I will have to play something a bit more insane next time.

"I was classically trained, and have always played classical music, but am also a big heavy metal fan, which is why I played the Satriani track.

"Next time I might combine the two types of music with my own arrangement."

Fourth through was Rue Smith. After coming third last year in her fourth appearance, Rue is something of a Search for a Star veteran.

The 18-year-old, from Kingswood grabbed the attention of the audience from the start with her stage presence, and had them all clapping away with her rendition of Celine Dion's I'm Alive, and everyone was holding their breath as she powered her way through Alexandra Burke's chart-topping version of Hallelujah.

But behind her coolness on stage, Rue was hiding a last minute hitch that threatened to shake her nerves – a ladder in her tights.

She said: "It was a nightmare – I didn't have and spare and had to turn them around just before I went on.

"I am chuffed to get through. It is nice to be back here, but I still get the same nerves – it hasn't changed.

"I just really want to get further and further, and hopefully go on and win it."

Last to be called up to go through were the only band to perform, Last Orderz – four lads who have set themselves high standards after modelling themselves on The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Oasis.

Made up of drummer Alex Elvin, 17, from Bedminster Down, singer and guitarist Jack Riddiford, 17, from Bishopsworth, guitarist Tom Smith, 18, from Headley Park, and bass player Nick Townley, 17, from Bedminster Down, Last Orderz have been together for about two years.

The boys may still be studying, but they have already played gigs at the Carling Academy, the Fleece and the Louisiana.

They raised the roof with their first song, Nothing In This World, taken from their EP that they are releasing at the end of the month, and paid homage to their idols as they blasted out Oasis' Rock'n'Roll star.

Afterwards, Alex said: "It is good to know that when we play in front of people we don't know they still enjoy it, as normally we play in front of people who know our music.

"Things like this are more nerve-wracking because people are scrutinising what you do, whereas at gigs they just get into and enjoy it, so we are chuffed to get through to the next round."

The judges – Dave Miles, a music teacher from Clifton College, Kerrie Duce, an amateur musical director in Bristol, and Anthony Sanchez, a singer-songwriter, said it had been hard to whittle the nine down to just five to go through.

Kerrie said: "We have seen some fabulous vocalists, and it is a pleasure to see a variety of acts up there, including some great instrumentalists."

But, as compere Ian Gambrell said, there were no losers – just winners and runners-up.

First on stage was Michael Pring, from Bedminster. The 67-year-old former Wills Tobacco factory worker may have been the oldest in the heat, but he showed the youngsters how to get into the swing of things and got a warm response from the audience with his old-time crooning renditions of Bobby Darin's Beyond The Sea and The Fantastics' Something Old, Something New.

Chelsea Saroe, from Lockleaze took to the stage in a stunning turquoise and black dress to perform her two songs.

The 16-year-old, who goes to St Katherine's School in Pill, has performed in Search for a Star once before, and is soon going to be appearing in Return To The Forbidden Planet at her school next month.

She dedicated her first song, Maroon 5's She Will Be Loved, to her best friend, Charlotte, and the second, Natasha Bedingfield's Unwritten to her mum, who was sitting proudly in the audience.

Kimberley Stenner, a security guard from Hanham, was next up. She was making a return to the Fry Club stage after a 10-year break, and was spurred into singing again after being inspired by shows such as X Factor.

Clad in figure-hugging leggings, the 24-year-old put her soulful voice to good Toni Braxton's Please and Tina Turner's classic What's Love Got To Do With It, who were swaying and tapping their feet in the dark.

Performing in Search for a Star for her second time was the heat's youngest singer, Shelley Leggett, from Brislington.

The 15-year-old, who goes to Broadlands School in Keynsham, got through to last year's semi-finals and previously came third in the junior competition.

Shelley sang My Immortal, by Evanescence, and her favourite song, Spotlight, by Jennifer Hudson.

Now the first heat is over, all eyes are on the Fry Club for the second one next Sunday.

Deb said: "We have had a great response with our entries so far, but there are still plenty of places left.

"With so much talent about, it would be great to find the next big thing from our area."

There will be five initial heats, then three semi-finals before the grand final on May 17. The first prize for the competition is £1,000, the Search for a Star cup, and a day in a recording studio at the Access To Music studio in Hengrove

The second prize is £500, third prize is £250 and the fourth-place performer will pick up a cheque for £150.

There is still plenty of time to enter the competition. To apply, fill out an entry form in the Post.

Prices to watch the heats are £3 for adults and £1 for under-18s.