ASPIRING pop singers, school bands and bedroom ballad crooners are all invited to showcase their talent at a local festival.

Lets Play Music, specialising in instrument tuition, has a new open mic stage this year at the Phoenix Festival in Cirencester.

This new festival stage is dedicated to amateur performers, giving them their 15 minutes in the limelight to kickstart their musical career or just to have fun.

The Cotswold festival runs from Saturday, August 29 to Sunday, August 30 and is a free annual family event at Cirencester’s Abbey Grounds.

Stuart Elwin of Let’s Play Music said: “We want, singers, guitarists, pianists, school and community choirs, violinists, brass, woodwind, basically any instrument you can carry. We’ll provide a keyboard and electronic drum kit.’’ For more details or to sign up visit www.letsplaymusic.co.uk/phoenix-festival. Closing date for entries is Thursday, July 30.