A SHOWCASE for the area's top music talent is being staged on Teesside next week.

The music development project From Teesside with Love will host its first event at the Cornerhouse, in Middlesbrough, on Tuesday.

Among the acts taking part will be Gilmore, being billed as one of the freshest bands on the local scene, and Sugarstone, a group with a national following.

The showcase is the first in a planned programme of events designed to show off the project's rising stars.

While they will normally be held at the Cornerhouse and Stockton's Georgian Theatre, the next showcase, on October 6, will be at the Arc, in Stockton, where six of Teesside's musical acts will play with BBC Radio One's Steve Lamacq.

The project is funded by Northern Arts, with help from local groups.

It aims to provide advice and exposure for both seasonal musicians and those taking their first steps in the business.

It hopes to break down the barriers that often prevent musical talent from flourishing. The Showcase's doors open at 8pm, and admission is £3