The Associated Press State & Local Wire
December 1, 2006 Friday 6:53 PM GMT

Omaha band named finalist in international music competition

An Omaha band was named one of seven finalists in an international
music competition.

MLK and the Dreamers will travel to London Saturday to perform next
week in the British Broadcasting Corp.’s competition, "The Next Big
Thing." Entries were accepted from bands whose members were ages 18
or younger. More than 1,000 artists from 36 countries entered songs
in the competition.

MLK and the Dreamers is made up of eight teens ages 15 to 17 from the
Omaha area.

The band performs songs about civil rights history. Their entry tune,
"Great Man," is a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., who was
assassinated in 1968.

"We all really admire him," said band member Evelyn Taylor.

Other competitors are from Armenia, Brazil, Britain, Ghana, Liberia
and Malawi. The winner, who gets a trophy and more air play of the
winning song, will be announced Dec. 9.