New Roots is an annual event for young performers of all styles of music from traditional to contemporary folk, roots to world music, whether playing cover material or their own songs.

Bands with members who are under 25 were frantically sending in CDs of their music until January to judges Lynne Heraud, Joe Heap, Janet Russell and Dave Delarre, who have now announced their winning line-up of ten acts.

There is no overall winner but all the bands and solo artists will perform together at a concert at Trestle Arts Base, receive prizes and, most importantly of all, get their music heard.

In the under 18 category, the winners include trio Swift As He, from Abbots Langley, and Order of the Planets, a four-piece acoustic band from Watford. Swift As He are Russell Barnett, 16, Aaron Zolnai-Lucus, 17, and Jake Harvey, 17, who formed only recently to mix traditional folk with modern and progressive elements. They are beginning to write their own material, which takes ideas from English folk ballads, soothing lullabies and progressive rock.

Order of the Planets is an acoustic folk band made up on Arthur Sawyer, Jacob Buckton, Ryan Isbell and James Burwell, who have been writing, performing and recording their own songs for a few years.

The other acts in the under 18 category are Billy Hill from London, Abbie Rechert from Chesterfield, Joe Danks from Nottingham, and Tanglesteps from Bath, Oxford and Milton Keynes.

Meanwhile, in the 18-24 category are Broken Boat, who featured in last week’s St Albans Review. Duo Daniel Bahrami and Brendan Kearney weave honest, heartfelt lyrics with a soulful, intimate sound and are signed to Berkhamsted label Which Wolf Wins, which has just released their EP Peace and Quiet.

The remaining 18-24 acts are Tandem from Greenwich, Briarheart from Norfolk and Matt Quinn from East Sussex.

  • The New Roots final is at Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive, St Albans on Sunday, April 14 from 11am to 5pm. Details: 01727 850950, www.trestle.org.uk