MUSICIANS in Meirionnydd have returned to the classroom to inspire the next generation of musical talent.

In a brand new S4C series on Wednesday, 13 April, presenter Lara Catrin travels across Wales to look for young musical talent.

The aim of Pwy Geith y Gig? (‘Who gets the gig?’) is to form a new band featuring young people aged between 11 and 16 years old.

And the prize for the winning band is to be mentored by four famous individuals in the Welsh music scene and the opportunity to perform at a special gig in this years’ Urdd Eisteddfod, Flintshire.

Along the journey, some of Wales’ most iconic bands will return to their secondary schools for a chat and a gig.

Swnami return to Ysgol y Gader, Dolgellau; Yws Gwynedd to Ysgol y Moelwyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog; and Candelas to Ysgol y Berwyn, Bala.

In the first programme, young people from across Wales will audition by singing Trwmgwsg by Swnami, in a bid to make it to the final. The panel who will pick the band members in the final programme are Efa ‘Supertramp’ Thomas, presenter Lisa Gwilym, singer and songwriter Alys Williams, who starred in BBC’s The Voice, and Iwan Fôn, lead singer of Y Reu.

“Having the opportunity to watch over 70 young people from across Wales play their instruments and perform to such a high standard left me amazed every time,” said presenter Lara Catrin, who comes from Felinheli, Gwynedd, but has spent the past three years living and working in Paris.

“John Lennon once said ‘French music is like English wine’ and he wasn’t wrong,” she added, as she describes the music scene in Paris.

“It was a real pleasure to return to Wales and see the music scene is thriving.

"I don’t remember a time there could be two Welsh-language gigs on the same night, both sold out. This, to me, is incredibly positive.

“I also feel that more young people see Welsh-language music as being cool, much more than before.

"I wouldn’t have liked to have been one of the Pwy Geith y Gig? panel members as there’s no way I could have narrowed it down to six individuals. I would have been able to create at least six bands!”

And what was it like for Lara to present a television series for the first time? She said: “I have never presented anything more than a cake at a cake-decorating competition at the school Eisteddfod, so presenting a whole series of Pwy Geith y Gig? was a bit scary to start.

“But, from the first day of filming, I really enjoyed the experience. I’m lucky that the crew are all very kind, the bands are awesome, and it was a pleasure to go to work every day.”