Mae’s music dream is one step closer (From Evesham Journal)

Mae’s music dream is one step closer

7:30pm Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News By Neil Watts

A YOUNG singer-songwriter from a Worcestershire village is hoping to be top of the tree at a prestigious awards this weekend.

Mae Bradbury, of Eckington, near Pershore, has been chosen as one of 10 finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards and will now take part in the Young Folk Awards Weekend in Kendal, Cumbria, this weekend.

The 20-year-old, who works at the Abbey Tea Rooms in Pershore, has already been judged on a recorded entry and now has the opportunity to let her music do the talking in the live arena.

Mae said: “I’m really excited to be a part of such a great competition. Writing songs is my passion and to get to perform them in front of such a big audience will be amazing.”

The weekend includes sessions and workshops and will provide an opportunity for the musicians and singers to meet and perform.

John Spiers, who performs in the duo Spiers and Boden and Bellowhead, and singer and fiddle player Jackie Oates, who appeared as a finalist in the awards of 2003, will be leading the workshops.

DJ Mike Harding will present a concert featuring performances from each act, with a panel of judges selecting four to become the nominees for the award.

Mae said: “I’m looking forward to working with other musicians with the same love for music as me and getting coaching from respected folk musicians such as Jackie Oates and John Spiers.

“My dream would be to make this my career as I couldn’t think of anything better than to spend my life doing something that I love.”

The former Prince Henry’s High School pupil recently released her first EP Little Bird and her next local gig sees her play at the Abbey Tea Rooms on Sunday, October 28, from 7pm.

Among the prizes on offer to the winner include the opportunity to record a session for Radio 2 and to perform at top UK festivals next year, such as the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival.