Chantal Maltby


Dan Furniss


David Barton


Kizzy Batemen


Lucy Chester

EAST Yorkshire’s best acts are getting ready for the final of this year’s Talent Trail.

The 10 acts have fought their way through heats and semi-finals, but now the line-up has been chosen for the big night.

To get to the City Hall stage each of them has played sets at venues throughout Hull.

Now they are looking forward to playing to the crowd in the city centre and hoping to win Talent Trail 2008.

Performing with a live band, under professional lights and in front of a massive audience, each hopeful will have to give it their all to impress the judges and take the cash prize.

Mod band The 45s cannot wait to step on to the City Hall stage.

They won their heat and a semi-final at the Cherokee Club, west Hull.

Lee Urbanowicz, 28, of Chanterlands Avenue, west Hull, plays rhythm guitar and sings backing vocals in the band.

He said: “To be honest, we’re a bit overwhelmed. I’ve played many venues in Hull and City Hall is one I’ve always wanted to play.”

David Barton, 20, of Beverley High Road, went through after performing at Dene Park Club in north Hull and the Willows Club, east Hull.

He said: “I’m excited. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s been a new experience for me. I’ve met other people who I wouldn’t meet ordinarily.”

Soul act Dan Furniss, 32, entered for the first time this year to see what it was like. He planned to come back next year with more experience.

But after getting the nod from the judges at Dene Park club in north Hull and the Willows Club in Holderness Road, he will be taking to the stage at City Hall on Thursday, May 1.

He said: “I am absolutely looking
forward to it. It’s going to be great fun.

“Everyone has been really supportive and really pleased for me.”

Seventeen-year-old Kizzy Bateman says she plans to make the most of the experience at City Hall. She said: “I’m trying my best to get everything ready. I’ve been to the Gough and Davy music shop and they have said they will lend me a digital grand piano to go as big as possible.”

Russ X, 32, won his place at the final after performing at the Belmont Club in east Hull and the Cherokee Club in west Hull.

He said: “I didn’t think I was 100 per cent in my semi-
final. I will be pulling out all the stops.”

This year, for the first time, footage of the heats has been shown on the big screen in Queen Victoria Square in Hull city centre.

The full line-up of 10 finalists is The 45s, Temptation, Lucy Chester, Dan Furniss, Dave Barton, Russ X, Stuart Steels, Kizzy Batemen, Sarah Pollin and Chantal Maltby.

Big-screen coverage will continue for the final and the Talent Trail website will show the best performances.

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Russ X


Sarah Pollin


Stuart Steels


Temptation


The 45s