Local talent search hots up

Four excellent singers have already gone through to the grand final of Search for a Star, and now another 11 acts are going to try their luck at the Fry Club in Keynsham.

The competition is hotting up, and none of tomorrow night's semi-final contestants think they have a guaranteed place in the final.

Last year's runner-up Hannah Berney, 18, from Chepstow, said she thinks the semi-final will be tough.

"I was so surprised at the level of talent in the heat – it felt like a semi-final. I was really pleased to get through, but I'm sure there will be lots more talented people in this round."

Hannah, who gave powerful performances of Etta James's At Last and Nina Simone's Feeling Good in the heat, has not decided what she will sing tomorrow night yet.

Four-piece rock band Class Apart, from Wells, will be performing two of their own songs, What Would You Do and Tonight.

Also in tomorrow's final is impressive guitarist Ky Underhill.

16-year-old Ky wowed the crowds in the first heat of the competition with his solos, and is hoping to do it again with Canon Rock by Jerry C and a Grade 8 rock piece called 667.

Rebecca Taylor, 18, from Kingswood, is planning on singing Amy Winehouse's version of Valerie and either the soul classic Ain't No Sunshine or Alexandra Burke's version of Hallelujah.

She said: "The heat was amazing. I was so nervous but when I got up there it was great. It was the best feeling – like nothing I have done before."

Brian Dimery, 64, from Saltford, says he is looking forward to getting back on stage.

He is going to sing Penny Arcade, by Roy Orbison, and then either Don't Close Your Eyes by Keith Whitley or Elvis's My Boy.

18-year-old Rue Smith, from Kingswood, grabbed the attention of the audience in the first heat with her stage presence, and had them all clapping away with her rendition of Celine Dion's I'm Alive.

This time round, she is not sure what she will be singing yet but she wants to do something that's a bit different.

Kristina Lewis, 18, from Weston-super-Mare, will be singing Soon As I Get Home from musical The Wiz and another song she hasn't decided on yet.

Jemaine Williams, 25, from Horfield, performing under the name Frilla, brought something a little different to the final heat.

Power ballads and musicals gave way to rap and hip-hop, as Frilla performed songs he had written and produced.

He plans to do the same again tomorrow, with tracks called Life and Bounce Shake.

Also performing tomorrow will be Katie Mallin, 19, from Staple Hill, Kiera-Marie Somers, 19, from Emersons Green, and Lucy Curtis, 16, from Clifton.