At least 20 local bands a year will now have a chance to take to the stage in Newcastle University's Bassment .

The venue, which has hosted gigs by the likes of Lily Allen, The Killers, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys and Razorlight, will be running a Battle of the Bands event every term.

It is the university Students' Union's bid to plug into the vibrant north-east music scene.

The Union aims to showcase the range of talent and build a relationship with local artists, offering them a stage, an audience, and a £300 prize.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for new bands to play in one of the city's premier entertainment hotspots, following in the footsteps of some of the biggest names in music," says Jamie McDonnell, President of the Union Society.

"This is a really exciting time to be getting more involved with Newcastle-based bands, which is reflected in our diverse line up of local bands of many different genres."

Local bands will get a unique chance to engage with an audience consisting of students from all over the world alongside the wider population of Newcastle,.

The first Battle of the Bands will take place on Thursday, March 13, and features an eclectic line up including gothic rock band World Is Static, indie rockers Farewell To Felix, and long-running metal group Solus Ipse.

For tickets and full details of the line-up, visit the Union's website here