The UK’s biggest street music competition has begun, with a one-off training event in Wembley open to aspiring musicians.

Gigs is the Mayor of London’s annual search for the best young musicians aged 11 to 25, from the capital and across the country.

As well as giving young artists the opportunity to perform at iconic locations around the city between Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, August 6, 2017.

The Gigs Grand Final is being held on September 3 at Westfield London and entrants have the chance to win an array of prizes including a licence to busk on London Underground, a busking trip to Paris, recording time at a top professional studio and a songwriting day. Kaity Rae, 19, from Barnet, won the songwriting prize in 2016.

This year for the first time competitors will have the opportunity to hone their performance skills ahead of entering, by taking part in a Busk in London Academy day session.

Wembley Park will host the first Busk in London Academy day on Saturday, June 3, at The SSE Arena, Wembley as well as the Yellow Pavilion. The event is open to up to 80 people.

The Academy aims to prepare musicians for the high-profile Gigs competition and will offer practical sessions including vocal and physical health for performance, stage craft, repertoire, audience engagement, equipment knowledge and advice on how to market talent.

It will be led by experienced industry practitioners and the day ends with a Q&A session and a special guest performer.

Busk in London programme director Kate Jones says:  “London is home to some of the most musically talented people in the whole world and it’s incredibly important that we support the artists of tomorrow and help our city to maintain its reputation as a music powerhouse.

“Gigs is more than just a competition – it opens up incredible opportunities across the industry and gives budding musicians expert advice and access to a world that is typically hard to break into. We’re calling on the young people of Barnet to enter this year’s competition and have the chance to be heard by thousands of Londoners and visitors to the capital.”

Budding buskers can enter Gigs via the online entry form at london.gov.uk/gigs or buskinlondon.com/gigs and entries close on Friday, June 9, 2017. Here they can also find the simple online application form for the Gigs Academy Day.