TEENAGE rockers Nomad have won the chance to work with top musicians at a special weekend in Malvern.

The group emerged about two-and-a-half years ago as fellow Martley's Chantry High School pupils Jay Pearce (vocals and guitars) and Josh Thirlwell (bass) - both aged 15 - and Will Diment (drums), aged 14 - bonded over a love of music. Now they are one of four musical acts to have been picked to participate in a Fame Academy-style residential music course at the Highball Centre in Hanley Swan this weekend.

The First Bass event has been organised by the Malvern section of Worcestershire Youth Service. De-Struk from Worcester. Bewdley band Discolution and Malvern act The Taberness Brothers were the other finalists chosen.

This weekend will see the class acts team up with professional musicians to make sweet music. Nomad recently took to the stage at the Carling Academy in Birmingham as part of a global Battle of the Bands competition.

They have also attracted the attentions of Kidderminster-based M.A.S Records - whose patron is Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin.

The label has now put them on the bill for a gig in Dudley next month, and they hope to return to the recording studio with a view to releasing an album next year.

Jay's dad and Nomad manager Graham Pearce said he was delighted the boys had been chosen for the event. "The lads were really pleased but as they're so easy-going they seemed to take it in their stride. It was me going mad about it!" he said.

Dena Falk, senior youth worker at Malvern Youth Centres, said the standard of entries had been very high.

Nomad will also perform at Malvern Youth Centre on Saturday, October 29, as part of National Youth Week, going out live on Worcester-based radio station Youthcomm. JOBY MULLENS