NEW music champion Rob da Bank is teaming up with one of his oldest haunts, The Joiners, to find the best new band the South Coast has to offer.

The winner will land a slot at Common People alongside Southampton superstar Craig David this spring bank holiday weekend.

Rob told Your Entertainment: “I’m really proud to be teaming up with one of my oldest venue haunts, The Joiners, for a second round of Common People’s search for new bands.

"There’s so much talent in Southampton and the surrounding areas that we’ve had to go to three heats to try and fit everyone in. Please come and support local music and I’ll see you at the bar or maybe even in the moshpit!”

To apply, you need to upload one track to the Soundcloud group: https://soundcloud.com/groups/common-people-southampton-2016-submissions by January 31. Once your tune is uploaded, send an email to localacts@commonpeople.net with a maximum of 100 words explaining why you want to play Common People. And don’t forget to include your act name, number of members, your location and your social media links.

Organisers will listen to all submissions by February 4 and notify favourites by February 8 that they've been invited to one of the competition finals at the Joiners, either on February 16, March 31 or April 21.

The competition finals will be judged by DJ and festival founder Rob, BBC South Introducing presenter Melita Dennett, the Joiners’ own Ricky Bates and an expert team of music lovers.

The winners will get the chance to play at Southampton’s second Common People on the Uncommon Stage presented by The Joiners!

They will join the city's own Craig David on the bill at his homecoming gig on Southampton Common. His headline set, on Saturday May 28, will follow hip-hop powerhouse Public Enemy, lyrical acrobat Ghostpoet, b-boy originators The Sugarhill Gang, glossy rockers Don Broco and super-talented theatre troupe West End Kids.

The Sunday headliner will be announced soon and join Ed Sheeran protégé Jamie Lawson, Brentford’s premier pirate radio crew Kurupt FM, Los Hermanos Cubanos The Cuban Brothers, rockney big shots Chas & Dave and lycra’s leading light Mr Motivator on the line-up. David Rodigan MBE presents Ram Jam in the Big Top.

Southampton band The Costellos, pictured, won last year's I Want To Play at Common People!

Tickets are available for the festival from commonpeople.net