CLUB owners Andrew Moyes and Mark Gent are providing an opportunity for local bands to showcase their talents at the Azuza in Marlborough High Street.

It's been made possible by the granting of a public entertainment licence for live music.

Mr Moyes, who took over the former Amazon club with his partner Mr Gent three months ago has a local music and local employment policy.

They renamed the club and coined the word Azuza to fit its bright and colourful Mediterranean image.

All the staff at the ground floor coffee bar restaurant and the first floor club live locally.

The new owners plan to feature weekly gigs in the club featuring local bands and musicians.

The club previously had a licence for recorded music but not for live music.

Confirmation of the granting of the the live music licence was received by the club this week.

Mr Moyes said: "Getting a licence is quite a complicated procedure and we would like to thank principal environmental health and licensing officer John Knight for all his valuable advice and assistance.

"We want to promote local bands and Thursdays we will be having live music.

"We hope to have it on as many Thursday nights as we can get bands for and we want local bands to get in touch."

The first gig will be on February 24 with the Marlborough/Pewsey group Jowdie.

On March 3 it will be the turn of Chippenham group Orum, with MC Knatti P bringing his own distinctive reggae/ska sound on March 10, and the Monkey Dolls on March 17.

Mr Moyes said he hoped enough bands would come forward so that the Thursday night gigs will be a regular feature at Azuza.

The bands will play from 9pm to 11pm and will be followed by a disco until 1pm.

The licensed club is also open Fridays and Saturdays between 10.30pm and 2am with a resident DJ. It has a strict over 18s only policy and first time young visitors have to produce either a driving licence or passport so their age can be verified.

Mr Moyes has also expressed interest in promoting a local battle of the bands in conjunction with the town's carnival committee.