THREE students in Wrexham who set up their own record label have organised a key event to unearth their first signing.

Jim Hickson, Jonathan McKibbin and Nathan Stewart, all first year sound engineering students at Wrexham’s Glyndwr University, founded Curious Orange Records in October.

Now the trio are organising a battle of the bands event to find the label’s first band and are offering a £200 cash prize to their winning act.

Jim, 18, said: “We started it just because we were all on the sound engineering course and we thought it would be a good experience to try it out. We are an independant Record Label based in Wrexham (N. Wales). We combine our skills and contacts to produce, distribute & help all our Artists. The battle of the bands will lead to the signing of our first artist. They will get a one-album contract which has to be recorded at Glyndwr University so the students on our course can use their skills.

He added: “As musicians ourselves, we understand how hard it is to get a foot in the industry. We are always happy to receive demo’s from all genres of music, so if you’re interested then feel free to contact us.  taking part come from across the region, with many from Wrexham. The aim is then to sign more acts.”

The first round heats take place on Fridays, February 12 and 19. This will then be followed by a semi-final and final.

Each event will be judged by the Curious Orange boys themselves along with a representative from student radio station Calon FM.

The final, on Friday, March 19, will also be judged by legendary Hacienda DJ Graeme Park, now a tutor at Glyndwr.

The winner will get a £200 cash prize and be signed to Curious Orange where Jim, Jonathan and Nathan will use their expertise to produce and master the album at the university.

They hope to secure funds to employ a solicitor before pressing and distributing the resulting effort.

Members of the public are invited along to each of the live events, which begin each week at Glyndwr University’s student guild at 8pm.

Bands who would like to fill the vacant slot in the second heat should email Jim Hickson at [email protected]

Jim adds finally “If you want any more info, please just ask”