A TALENTED town musician will be hoping to hit the right note in a contest next week.

Guitarist Matthew Trigg, of Firs Close, Marlbrook, has won himself a place in the finals of a competition to find fresh talent.

He will thrash it out against eight other musicians from all over the Midlands at the Hard Rock Caf in Broad Street, Birmingham, on Thursday, October 23.

Sixteen-year-old Matt was encouraged to enter the competition by his dad Dave, who spotted an advertisement in the local press.

It also happened that the first two rounds of the contest were held at the Madhouse Rehearsal Studios in Birmingham, where Matt practises with his band Bandit 112.

He told the Advertiser/Messenger that he was looking forward to the gig but was not taking it too seriously.

"I only entered for the fun of it but it will be a laugh and there will be people from the music industry so you never know what could happen," said the North Bromsgrove High School pupil. "I could also win a new guitar, which would be good."

Matt includes The Notorious Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Hendrix as some of his inspirations.

He is currently studying four A-levels and hopes to go on to Southampton University to read acoustical engineering.

Matt added: "I will always continue playing the guitar as a hobby because I love music but I don't think it will ever pay enough!"