A County Durham singer-songwriter has been nominated for a top music award for his debut EP.

Craig Roddam, from Tudhoe, near Spennymoor, has been shortlisted for the “Best EP” at the UBeat Music Awards for his EP ‘Believe in what you want’.

Billed as the North East’s first ever music awards, the ceremony is being held at NE6 Suite in Newcastle on Friday December 4th and will be televised on the Made in Tyne and Wear digital channel to a potential audience of more than 200,000 people.

There are more than 80 solo artists, bands and producers nominated in 11 categories, and Craig will be up against seven other singers for Best EP award. Performers on the night will include Geoff Mull Music, Nick Celino, Official Twister, Cortney Dixon, The Waiters, Annabel Pattinson Music, Silvar Laidlow and Abi Garrido.

Craig, in the second year of his HND Music course at Bishop Auckland College, was nominated by Ubeat TV executive producer Dan Charles after asking for a spot on its Youtube channel to showcase his music.

Bidding for his big break, Craig performed to producers selecting acts for the next series of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ at O’Connell’s bar in Middlesbrough last month and is waiting to hear if he has secured an audition in front of judges at the televised stages.

He has also just been asked to perform for the O2 Academy in Newcastle’s ‘Acoustic Factory’, which showcases the best up and coming talent in the region.

Craig is currently planning a launch event for ‘Believe in what you want’, which is being released through iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and other digital outlets and can be heard at soundcloud.com/craigroddam/sets/believe-in-what-you-want-rough

The 27-year-old said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed and privileged to be nominated for ‘Best EP’ along with some amazing artists in the North East and very excited to be part of the region’s first ever music awards show. This has been a long time coming and hopefully will be the start of bigger things.”

Natalie Davison, Principal of Bishop Auckland College, wished him luck: “Craig is a very talented musician and is determined to make it as a professional performer. The college hopes his hard work pays off with a well deserved industry award next month.”

For more information about the UBeat Music Awards, visit: facebook.com/UbeatTV