LOUIS WALSH is planning to launch a new boyband to rival One Direction.
The Co Mayo pop mogul will hold auditions in Dublin from this weekend to find members for the brand new boy band to take on all-conquering One Direction, who count Mullingar man Niall Horan among their ranks.
Walsh, who managed Westlife, Boyzone and Girls Aloud, said: “It has been 12 years since I did auditions for a boy band, it's boys over 16 from anywhere, any nationality but they must be prepared to work hard; vocals are key.
"I'm looking for five pop stars and I have a major record company and a high profile UK partner.”
The auditions will take place on May 19-21 at 12 noon in The Button Factory, Dublin and are open to male singers aged from 16 to 25 years.
