ORIGINALS Showdown’26 brings together broadcasters, music professionals, creatives and volunteers with one shared ambition: to discover, showcase and celebrate outstanding original music from across Sussex & Surrey.
Organised by the Sussex & Surrey Soapbox podcast in partnership with SUSY 103.4
Our panel brings together a wealth of experience – musicians, songwriters, producers, broadcasters and music industry professionals. They look beyond technical ability alone, recognising creativity, originality, performance and the potential to connect with an audience. Three nominated judges will score each heat, rising to five for the GRAND FINAL.
An experienced recording engineer and music producer associated with Panther Studios in Reigate, an award-winning recording facility established in 1988. Over the years, the studio has welcomed an impressive range of artists and musicians, including names associated with The Damned, The Smiths, The Police and Simply Red, alongside emerging local talent.
I’m an established singer songwriter, along with being a classically trained grade 8 pianist. I’m a solo artist and lead singer in the band The SIXX which last year supported to a sold out crowd at The Chalk, Brighton for their opening show for SUPERGRASS before embarking on their World Tour.
As a solo singer I have an international singing career including performing from
LAS VEGAS to the ROYAL ALBERT HALL, I am now recording new material for The Sixx with record producer Al Scott (producer of The Levellers) as well as working with Rich Coppen on my solo stuff.
My other day job is teaching pupils from age 4-70 either piano or vocals up to grade 8 standard to over 60 pupils each week on a one to one base at a school in Surrey. Thanks for the opportunity to be apart of the judging panel.
I have spent over 20 years in and around the music industry, with experience as an artist, songwriter, producer, engineer and manager. His career has seen him perform on major stages, feature across leading radio and music platforms, tour, and work alongside a wide range of respected and established artists and industry professionals.
Today, Rish runs C-Raw Studios, a creative and artist development company focused on mentoring and developing emerging artists, bands and creative talent, while helping to create opportunities for the next wave of artists to grow both creatively and professionally.
With 20 years of experience loving all forms of music performance, Keiran knows what makes a performance unforgettable.
As the founder and organiser of Mogstock™️, an annual charity music festival at the top of Reigate Hill, that has raised more than £100k for various local, children’s and eco charities over its 20 years, they’ve spent years championing emerging talent and trying to bring communities together through live music.
Expect sharp ears, honest feedback, and a genuine love for great performances. Bands, consider yourselves encouraged (and warned!).
I’m excited to join the judging panel and to help with videography for the ORIGINALS livestream. I am a singer and multi-instrumentalist who studied vocals and music production at music college. My living is made reviewing music, and traveling around the world to document my experiences face-to-face with some of the tallent featured on my channel. The genres on my channel include but are not limited to gospel, jazz, hip-hop, metal, grime, drum corps, choral, and rock.
I have built a following of over 220k across all platforms and I’m passionate about using these platforms to give a spotlight to emerging tallent.
I’m looking forward to seeing what our local scene has to offer!
From live radio broadcasting and YouTube streaming to sound, lighting, stage management and event coordination, our Production Team works to bring it to life across 5 events.
Excited to be a co-host at ORIGINALS, I am a Surrey-based singer-songwriter and multi- instrumentalist, blending powerful vocals with heartfelt storytelling and an alternative pop-rock sound.
A passionate advocate for mental health awareness and working closely with The Lucy Rayner Foundation, I draw on personal experiences to create honest, emotionally driven music that explores resilience, vulnerability and finding strength through adversity.
Founder, Producer & Sound Engineer – Dragonfly Recording Studios
With over 25 years of professional audio experience, Tom Hughes is the founder and driving force behind Dragonfly Recording Studios in Reigate, one of the area’s respected recording and live sound specialists.
Having worked with hundreds of artists across recording, mixing, mastering and live performance, Tom combines technical expertise with a genuine passion for supporting local musical talent.
For ORIGINALS Showdown ’26, Tom and Dragonfly are providing a premium, professional PA system and expert live sound engineering, helping every artist deliver their very best performance. With top-tier Funktion-One sound equipment and Tom’s experienced ear behind the mixing desk, we’re delighted to have Dragonfly helping bring ORIGINALS to life.
I’m an audio engineer with a background in music production, live sound and broadcast. My work covers everything from recording, mixing and mastering music to providing sound for live events, testing audio software and hardware, and working on voiceover projects.
I’ve always enjoyed the variety of working in audio, moving between different projects, environments and people. I like getting hands-on, learning new things and finding practical solutions to whatever a project throws my way.
ORIGINALS Showdown ’26 is about more than winning a competition. It’s about creating a friendly, fun and supportive environment alongside our partners Redstart Community CIO where local artists, bands and duos can perform, connect with new audiences, gain exposure and celebrate the musical talent on our doorstep.
We want the spotlight firmly on the artists and their original music — not just the competition. With live audiences, SUSY 103.4 broadcasts and YouTube livestreaming, every performance is a chance to reach new listeners, build a following and make connections.
It’s competitive — but above all, a celebration of live, original music.
Each judge scores the performance across four equally weighted criteria, each from 1 to 10 (maximum 40 points per judge). The judges’ combined result contributes 65% of the final score; the public vote contributes the remaining 35%.
| JUDGING CRITERIA | SCORE |
|---|---|
| Originality & Songwriting — lyrics, composition, relevance, creativity | /10 |
| Musicianship, Vocals, Arrangement & Dynamics — ability, timing, tightness, flow, pace | /10 |
| Stage Presence & Audience Engagement — confidence, energy, compelling to watch | /10 |
| Overall Impact & Potential — would I want to hear them again? | /10 |
| TOTAL POSSIBLE PER JUDGE | /40 |
Our judges aim to provide fair, constructive and independent assessments, recognising original music across many styles and genres.
Every artist, band or duo has 15 minutes to perform original music, connect with the audience and impress the judges.
All five events are live broadcasts, so the Production Team will be working to a tight running order. Artists should be ready at their allocated time and respect the schedule to ensure a fair opportunity for everyone.
At the end of each heat, the public vote will open for 10 minutes. Supporters at the venue AND watching online can vote through the relevant Heat Portal on this website. Public votes and judges’ scores will then be combined to determine the heat winner progressing to the Grand Final.