Good news! I bring you good news. After being whittled down from 2500 entries, Wrexham’s Andy Hickie has made it through to become one of the 12 finalists of the Glastonbury Festival New Talent 2008 competition. The final is being held on 29th and 30th March down in Pilton, Somerset (the closest village to the festival site) and on the judging panel will be the Glastonbury organisers Michael and Emily Eavis, Q Magazine editor Paul Rees, BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens and Sarah Boden from the Observer amongst other industry glitterati.

The winner of the competition will get to perform at the festival in June, on the Pyramid Stage.

Previous winners of the competition, who then went on to much success include Scouting For Girls (2007) and The Subways (2004). The Wrexham music scene has a warm connection with the Glastonbury ‘New Talent’ competition. Back in 2004 (when it was called ‘Unsigned’), Cream Tangerine made it through to the final 12 and received great praise from the Eavis clan and industry folk alike.

Other national exposure for the local music scene includes the ‘In New Music We Trust’ show, hosted by Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1. Last Wednesday the show played the full length remix of the Gwildor song ‘Toe the line’ by James Yuill and a snippet of Heal The Last Stand’s ‘Surrender’. Every week the show focuses on a regional music scene in the UK and this week North Wales was featured and BBC Radio Wales’ Adam Walton delivered it. To listen again, go to Huw Stephens’ BBC Radio 1 page. You will find them about 25 minutes in.

On to the gigs for this week and tonight there is a swarm of activity all across the provinces.

Panic Promotions have an eclectic mixture of genres as they play host to Mother of Six, The Lupin Thieves and Mylk at McLean’s in Pentre. Its £3 entry and starts at 7:45pm.

The Old Swan in Wrexham has licked the cream of the local scene. Arnie, The Eyelashes That Ate Manhattan and Little Caesar will be performing on the boards. Get down the swanny for 8pm.

At Telfords Warehouse in Chester tonight indie rock outfit ‘ASbos’ are performing. Last year they were handpicked by music mogul Alan McGee (he used to own Creation Records who signed Oasis and Primal Scream) to perform at his über-cool Death Disco club in Notting Hill, London. The ASbo’s are originally from Chester and they’ve recently upped sticks and fled to Liverpool. It’s free to get in and kicks off at 8pm.

Keeping things dusty at Telfords Warehouse tomorrow night they have a Mexican comedy band playing. Called The Skin Imps, they play nothing but TV theme tunes. Have a listen on their page; www.myspace.com/theskinimps. They do a mean Thundercats – feel the magic and hear the roar. DJ Adam Walton and his Pet Sounds will be serving up the tunage before and after the band. Its free entry before 9pm and £4 afterwards. You can’t go wrong.

The only thing to share with you for Saturday night is happening down at The Old Swan in Wrecsam. Catskills (formerly Nemonix) are headlining with support coming from Nottingham’s Two Minute Warning (featuring Wrexham exile Kylie Bucannan on Bass Geeetar). As usual it’s free entry and if you get yourself down there for 8pm you’ll be laughing.

Next Wednesday, the popular rock night ‘Rebellion’ are having their 4th birthday celebration at Central Station. Last year they managed to hustle sponsorship from KERRANG! Magazine (which basically means you get mountains of freebies thrown at you) and they are attended by possibly every single 14-18 year old in North Wales. If you don’t believe me, take a look outside TK Maxx in Wrexham at about 6pm on Wednesday. Usually the nights are laden with the clichéd ‘emo’ or ‘metal’ kids but starting from their 4th birthday they will be having an indie room. Doors are 6pm and it’s £4 entry.

The latest wrexhammusic magazine is now out. This month’s edition features a round-up of the local scene. And you can get your free copy from either NEWI SU Bar, Yales Café Bar, The Old Swan, Game and Vinyl Planet or The Foundry.

Whatever happened to Adam III, the beat-up blues harmonica driven ex-carnival worker who was the toast of Bethan & Huw on BBC Radio 1? Well, with him being my best mate I can tell you he’s been busy. Congratulations go to Adam and his partner Gemma on their new baby daughter Amelie Louise Jones, who was born last week.

Until next week.