A musician is hoping to catch his big break by wowing an audience of about 2,000 people at one of the country's biggest singing competitions.

Acoustic singer Brian Smith, from Abbeytown, near Wigton, will be competing in the Soundwave competition at Newcastle's 02 Academy next month.

The 25-year-old has beaten off competition from an estimated 3,000 hopefuls to reach the final 12 of the event - and will now go for the top prize on February 4.

The entry was whittled down to 300 following auditions and other stages.

The competition, which is for unsigned artists, is open to solo singers and groups of all styles.

Brian, who has lived in the Abbeytown area for more than seven years, is trying to pursue a career in music and hopes to catch the eye of scouts for record companies at the event.

"So win or lose there's a high possibility that you could be spotted," he told The Cumberland News .

"I've been really putting my head down trying to get it right.

"There has been a lot of practising going on.

"I've just been trying to get as many gigs and performances over the Christmas and New Year period as possible."

A previous winner of the competition is Sam Lavery, who shot to fame on the latest edition of the X-Factor.

Brian is originally from the north east but moved over to north Cumbria with his mother who wanted to spend her retirement in the county.