London pub hosts free gig: Fleur East joins Danny Jones in search for UK’s next breakthrough musician

Arjé Rayne, Paul Marney, Todd Dachtler and alternative rock/metal band Kontra from London are among the emerging artists heading the Greene King Untapped national final, after impressing judges during the competition’s regional heats.
There will be 9 of the UK’s most exciting breakthrough acts at The George in Southwark on Friday 11th September, where they will compete to be crowned the Greene King Untapped 2026 winner.
Arjé Rayne, Paul Marney, Todd Dachtler and Kontra have all progressed through the competition’s regional stages, performing live in front of audiences in their local Greene King pub before earning their place in the national final. Meet the Greene King Untapped finalists heading to London:
Arjé Rayne: Nigerian-born, London-raised artist blending Afro soul, Afro pop and Afro rap, with music rooted in identity, resilience and fearless self-expression.
Paul Marney: Paul Marney is a London-based guitarist and singer-songwriter from the Philippines whose blues-rooted, soulful, and refreshingly raw talent is shaped by legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, John Mayer, Paul McCartney, and Eric Clapton.
Todd Dachtler: A 19-year-old singer-songwriter based in Kingston upon Thames who uses live looping to create a full-band sound, with previous performances on The Voice Kids, American Idol and in the West End.
Kontra: A London-based four-piece alternative rock/metal band blending heavy riffs, melodic vocals and progressive influences, with performances at venues including O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and O2 Academy Islington.
Friends with Foxes: Four-piece rock/indie band who won their Untapped heat at The Broadwater in Worthing in only their second-ever gig, before winning the regional final in Leeds.
LOTA: A South West-based funk, rock and alternative band known for catchy riffs and a high-energy sound, drawing influences from Lenny Kravitz and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The Daytonas: Five-piece rock ’n’ roll band from the South Coast, blending influences from The Doors, Kings of Leon and Led Zeppelin to create “new music for old souls.”
T-A: a four-piece neo-grunge and post-punk band from Dunfermline, blending alternative rock, electronic influences and pop vocals to create their distinctive genre-bending sound.
Libby Jane Marshall: Halifax-based singer-songwriter, creating heartfelt, personal music inspired by real-life experiences and emotions.
The finalists will perform live in front of a judging panel including McFly star Danny Jones, singer, broadcaster and presenter Fleur East, and representatives from Rolling Stone UK and Metropolis Studios, with Capital Radio presenter Chris Stark hosting the evening.
The overall winner will receive a career changing prize, £10,000 in cash, a professional studio recording session at Metropolis Studios, a performance slot at the Rolling Stone UK Awards 2026 and an exclusive mentoring session with Danny Jones.
Danny Jones, who has backed Live at Your Local throughout the summer, will help choose the overall winner. Having started his own career performing in pubs and grassroots venues, Danny has championed the role these spaces play in giving emerging musicians their first audiences and opportunities.
Joining him on the judging panel is singer, broadcaster and presenter Fleur East, who knows first-hand how a breakthrough opportunity can help propel an emerging artist’s career, having launched her own career on The X Factor.
Fleur East said: “I’m really excited to be joining the judging panel for the Greene King Untapped final and seeing what the finalists bring to the stage. I know first-hand how important opportunities like this can be for artists trying to take that next step in their careers.
“I’ll be looking for someone who really owns the stage, connects with the audience and shows us what makes them unique as an artist. I can’t wait to see the talent on the night and help crown the winner.”
Finalist, Arjé Rayne said: “Making it to the final feels incredible. Untapped has given us the chance to play to new audiences and we can’t wait to take to the stage in London. Winning would be an amazing opportunity to take our music to the next level.”
Greene King Untapped forms part of Greene King Pubs’ wider Live at Your Local campaign, supported by Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola, which has seen more than 900 acts perform in pubs s across the UK throughout August and September.
The initiative is designed to give communities the chance to access affordable live music events on their doorstep, while supporting the next generation of grassroots music talent.
New research commissioned by Greene King found that almost two thirds (62%) of all music listening now happens alone, with people who regularly attend live gigs discovering four times as many new artists as those who never go to live music events.
Greene King pubs has also teamed up for the second year with Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola to support the Music Venue Trust. For every eligible Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola purchased, 10p will be donated to the Trust, funding community projects and initiatives that nurture emerging talent across the country.
The final will take place at The George, Southwark on Friday 11th September at 4:30pm. Entry is free, but capacity is limited, so audiences are encouraged to arrive early to secure a space.
Music fans can find out more about Live at Your Local and Greene King Untapped at www.greeneking.co.uk/live-at-your-local