News for band members:

Next gig is 16^th December which is the last rehearsal before Christmas. Rehearsals will start again in the New Year on 13th January 2011.

Other News:

The Big Band Drummer Ollie Harding in the News

Builth Wells young drummer hopes to snare UK title

Ollie also reached the finals of the 2010 competition

A Powys schoolboy has been selected as a finalist in a UK-wide competition for young drummers.

Ollie Harding, 16, from Builth Wells, will compete against nine others to try to win the 2011 Young Drummer of the Year competition.

This is the second year running he has made the top ten and he is the only Welshman left in the competition.

The finals will be held in at The Royal Spa Centre in Leamington Spa on Sunday, 6 February 2011.

The teenager is involved in several local groups and school bands, including The Llandoddie Diddy Band, The Loose Cannons, Big Al's Protection Racket and has recently joined Hereford Big Band.

It was really nerve-racking playing in front of some of the world's greatest drummers, but I'm a little better prepared this time and hope I can impress the judges Ollie Harding

He is also a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for Wales and performed at the Welsh Proms at St David's Hall, Cardiff, earlier this year.

Ollie is currently studying for A-levels in music and maths at Builth Wells High School.

"Members of staff at the school have been great, providing advice and support, its a great music department," he said.

"I'm even learning to play piano to improve my music skills."

Ollie practices for two hours a day and will up the tempo in preparation for the finals when each contestant will have to play a two-minute solo followed by a set piece with a band.

They will also have to provide a drum part to a piece they will have only heard three times on the morning of the competition.

On finals day each contestant will play a two minute drum solo

The finals are judged by some of the country's top drummers.

Last year Ollie was under the scrutiny of Karl Brazil, who has played with Robbie Williams and Feeder, Ian Paice of Deep Purple, and Nick Mason of Pink Floyd.

"It was really nerve-wracking playing in front of some of the worlds' greatest drummers, but I am a little better prepared this time and hope I can impress the judges this year," said Ollie.

"It's a tough competition, but I'm really excited about being selected again and am hoping that I can get an even bigger crowd along to support me this year."

Ollie has his sights firmly set on becoming a professional musician.

"It's a tough profession, but I hope that with some hard work and plenty of practice I can become a successful player in the future," said Ollie, who hopes to attend a five-week summer course at a music school in Boston, USA.