FOUR performers will battle it out for the chance to make the final two in a new talent competition.

Pier Nine, Brighton’s new seafront entertainment hub, is offering aspiring musicians the chance to win £1,000 as well as a feature story in The Argus and a minimum of three performances at the freshly opened venue this year.

Now four acts will take to the stage at the venue next Saturday to fight it out for a spot in the competition’s final two.

Geoff Graham is the first of the finalists.

Following the launch of the competition last month, the singer was the first to submit an entry.

Geoff is “Brighton born and bred” and sings with the Choir With No Name, a charity which “runs singing groups for homeless and marginalised people”.

His entry saw him singing an emotional rendition of Baby Can I Hold You by Tracy Chapman.

Accompanied by a guitarist, he performed during an open mic night at the King and Queen pub in Marlborough Place, Brighton

Our next entry came from the Roy Rad Band, a Haywards Heath-based group.

The band say they are all in their late fifties and early sixties with members having played instruments from a young age.

They entered with an original song called Don’t Put Me Down.

Another pair to throw their hat in the ring are Nat ’n’ Dave,

The duo entered with a clip of them performing an energetic cover Wake Up Little Susie by the Everly Brothers.

The final finalist is Arion Haze.

The Brighton-based three-piece recently graduated from the British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM) in the city and say they would use the money to support their progress, buying new equipment.

They also said they would donate some of the sum to charity to help combat homelessness in Brighton and Hove.

The acts will perform in front of a panel of judges who will then whittle them down to a final two.

These artists will then choose a second track to perform to the judges in a head-to-head battle.

Following this, the judges will be faced with the tough decision of choosing an outright winner who will claim the competition’s coveted trophy.

The competition, supported by The Argus, aims to uncover new singing talent in Sussex.

Editor Arron Hendy said: “This county has a rich musical history and Brighton in particular has a vibrant music scene.

“It will be great to uncover some diamonds in the rough and, potentially, launch the career of Sussex’s next singing sensation.”