A GIRL band tipped to make a splash in the pop music charts is coming to north Durham this weekend.

Scottish group Lemonescent will play at Consett's Empire Theatre on Saturday as part of the talentSTAR tour.

The five-piece will headline a bill of 25 acts, as young singers, dancers, bands and musicians battle for a place in the competition's grand final.

The roadshow, which aims to promote up-and-coming talent, has visited more than 40 North-East schools and colleges and performed to 20,000 people.

The overall winner will have a website, a photo shoot at David Lawson's Crown Photography, in Sunderland, work with producers at Oblivion Studios, Stockton, and will have a demo track put on a compilation CD and sent to 450 record labels.

Lemonescent have already achieved two Top 40 hits in the last year are set to release their own version of Free's 1970s' classic hit, All Right Now.

The tour, organised by Adam Chetter, of Stanley-based Genius Entertainment, is backed by the Princes Trust and Arts Council.

Mr Chetter said: "Having seen Lemonescent supporting Atomic Kitten on their arena tour we asked them to join the talentSTAR tour and they said yes.

"It is a great opportunity for the talentSTAR performers to perform alongside an act that is only weeks away from charting."

Tickets for the show are available from the Empire box office on (01207) 218171.