WEST Ealing musician Laurence Bryar, playing with soul-pop artist Mushana, is up against 200 other young performers in this year's Gigs Big Busk, the country's biggest street music contest.

Laurence, 19, of Pitshanger Lane, is a guitarist, tutor and student who has been playing for seven years. He’s a member of a number of bands, regularly playing venues across London and the South.

He plays a wide range of styles, from rock to funk to country and beyond. When he’s not playing gigs, he gives private guitar lessons and is currently studying a BMus honours degree.

Over the past few weeks, Laurence has joined other contenders playing live at locations around the capital, with the aim of attracting votes from the public.

Locations include rail stations, Westfield shopping centre and near St Paul's Cathedral. For anyone who missed these performances there is still time to see them in action.

A video of them performing can now be seen on the official website at www.gigsbigbusk.com/vote More than 1,000 acts applied to take part in Gigs, which is organised by the Mayor of London and offers young musicians the opportunity to hone their skills by playing live around the city.

Prizes up for grabs include a coveted licence to busk on the Tube, courtesy of TfL, the chance to busk in Paris, courtesy of Eurostar, and recording time at a top studio.

The public has until Sunday, August 31, to vote for their favourite act and help them in their bid to compete in the Gigs grand final, which takes place at Westfield Stratford on September 7.

Three acts, chosen by the public, will join 15 others selected by a panel of industry judges.

There are three categories: Soloists and Duos, for people aged 16-25; Youth, for people aged 11-15; Groups, for up to 20 members.

The act Laurence is playing with, Mushana, is competing in the Groups category.