THERE are few people who wouldn’t recognise the name ‘Ellie Goulding’ these days – the Lyonshall singer has become a global phenomenon.

The county has been home to a clutch of other successful music artists – including Years and Years singer Olly Alexander who studied at Hereford College of Arts – while bands like Mott the Hoople will always instil pride in the hearts of Herefordians.

And youth project, Livewire, is providing opportunities for the next generation, aged between 12 and 22, to get involved with the live music scene.

Launched in 2010 as an amalgamation of various musical youth projects set up by the Music Pool charity, it helps young people to play, create, write, record and perform high quality original music and prepare for upcoming gigs. It also hosts regular workshops and recording sessions.

Chris Butts, project manager, said: “It’s the idea that anyone can get involved in music – it doesn’t matter what gender, race or social bracket you’re in.

“In the last couple of years we have provided weekly workshops and week-long intensive courses during some half terms.

“We have played at places like Nozstock, and the Castle Green Fair so there are quite a lot of opportunities.

"We also have good relationships with the college and a lot of participants come to us and then head to the college for a musical course.”

There are a number of venues in the county offering a platform to performers.

Reet Petite in Leominster has been supportive of Livewire and The Booth Hall is now among the ‘go-to’ places for live music in Hereford.

Since taking over the venue in December 2015, brother and sister management team Willow and Arran Vidal-Hall have been passionate about offering a place to showcase entertainment.

Their website proudly highlights the varied acts that are so regularly welcomed, and they state their desire for the pub to be ‘synonymous’ with live music.

De Koffie Pot, at the Left Bank, also regularly hosts gigs and events and is another supporter of the Livewire project.

Mr Butts added: “It would be nice for other places to follow suit and try to create a scene.

“From my perspective and having spoken to our young people, one of the huge things young people take from the Livewire project is confidence. It’s run by professionals and all the team are on the circuit themselves.

“We try to offer as much as we can and are looking to organise our own gigs which will give them more performance opportunities.”