ANTI-DRUG DJ BATTLES FOR OPENING SLOT AT GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL

A Bath DJ who is helping in the war on drug abuse has a chance of playing
at the Glastonbury music festival this summer. Patrick Morrison has been
shortlisted to fill the opening slot in the festival's dance tent. But
first he has to win a battle of the bands at a Bristol nightspot.

The 21-year-old, who has been mixing music for seven years, will battle it
out with 15 other up-and-coming DJs at The Level in a contest split between
last night and next Sunday.

The competition has been organised in association with Frank - a national
drugs awareness campaign, which aims to get people talking about drug issues.

Patrick is in the second year of a music course at City of Bath College and
has a regular set at Bath's Moles club.

He also DJs at a regular session called Beat Pimps at city nightclub
Babylon and has played to packed crowds at Bristol hotspot Creation.

He said: "The competition is a great opportunity for exposure for young
DJs. It is also great for promoting the Frank campaign.

"It is good to know there are people out there willing to listen instead of
just preach, which I think is a much more successful way of reaching young
people.

"Glastonbury will be the biggest gig I have ever played."

To win the top prize of performing a set at Glastonbury, the hip hop DJ
from Monkton Combe, will be judged on enthusiasm, crowd reaction, mixing
quality and the records or CDs played.

A host of industry big guns will judge the competition, including Russell
Deeks, editor of iDJ magazine, DJs Nick Warren, Miss Behavin, Daddy G and
Sally Hudson from radio station Vibe 101 and Amanda Glyn from the
Troubadour Club in London.

Darren Hall, regional advisor for the Government's South West Drugs Team,
said DJs submitted a demo tape, CD or minidisc and answered five tie-break
questions to progress in the contest.

Entries came from all over the south west, London and Wales and the
standard was so high that organisers increased the number of finalists from
six to nine people each night in the 18 to 25 category.

Mr Hall said: "Entrance to the club is free and everyone is invited to come
along and voice their opinion and help us find some of the hottest talent
in the west.

"This really is a terrific competition giving young people the opportunity
to debut their talents in front of peers and members of the music industry.

"By using clubs and dance music we can reach young people in their own
environments, and spread the Frank message. With the right information
young people can make informed decisions and we can really tackle drugs in
the south west."