Drumming up support RTE finalist

A young drummer from Newtownards has reached the finals of RTÉs new hit series The Drums.

Following on from the hit series The Guitar, RTÉ Young Peoples is on a quest to find Ireland's next drumming sensation.

Each finalist on The Drums is playing to win an exclusive DW Drum Kit signed by The Script's drummer Glen Power, in a black sparkle finish completed with a top of the range Sabian Cymbal Set.

Local teenager Michael Speers is a regular in the Ivy Bar, playing with popular rock band Valkaine (made up of four pupils from Regent House). Michael also plays with Wilson Magwere and The Talking Drum (an authentic Afro Caribbean reggae band) and MSS (a jazz/funk band).

He has already built up a reputation as one of the provinces most aspiring drummers and earned respect from his peers.

He has made it through the heats of the RTÉ competition to be one of 13 finalists selected from country-wide auditions. Each weekday at 7 pm on RTÉ Two, one of the drummers has had just over one minute to prove they are best Ireland has to offer. Michael will appear on the show on April 6. The following day, Wednesday April 7 at 7pm, the online vote begins to decide who is the winner of The Drums. Voting ends on April 12 and Michael would love for the people of his hometown of Newtownards to give him their support.

If you would like to find out fore about the show, see the finalists and vote, log on from April 7 when all the finalists will on the site and give our local drummer boy your vote!

You can find out more at www.rte.ie/tv/twotube/thedrums