This article was published in 2016.

Centre Stage 2016 is almost upon us! The heats for Centre Stage 2016 will take place on 18th, 19th and 20th April at the Belgrave Music Hall and promise to be swarming with local, young talent from the region.

Music industry panel will decide 2016's finalists who will then compete at O2 Academy Leeds on 27th July. The overall winner will win a slot on the line up at both sites of the annual Reading & Leeds Festivals 2016 and a music video by local film makers, Sodium.

Previous winners The Mallrats will also be performing.

Monday 18th April:

CARA
Territory
Danny Aspinall
Shaarks
Blyss
Retaliation
The Velveteens

Tuesday 19th April:

The Indigo Project
Faux Pas
Cole Lawton-Challenger
The Haze
Molly Rymer
Tree
Plus Special Guests - The Mallrats (Winners 2015)

Wednesday 20th April:

The Elephant Trees
Liberate
Drax
Hierarchy
Dan Hughes
Lewis Crossley
Big Bad Rabbit

The premise of the Centre Stage Competition is to give young bands a fantastic platform and exposure whilst raising vital funds for Martin House Children's Hospice. Since its initial launch by The Pigeon Detectives in autumn 2009, Centre Stage has so far provided a platform for over 170 young Yorkshire acts and raised over £200,000 for Martin House Children's Hospice. The competition has the support of Embrace, The Pigeon Detectives, The Cribs, Pulled Apart by Horses and Festival Republic.

In order to enter, artists must be under 22 years old, reside in Yorkshire and must be committed to undertake their own fundraising for the hospice or with the support of their school/college.

Doors for the heats open at 6.15pm, with each show starting at 7pm. Entry is just £4 on the door.