Sharps Update: Norfolk Invades London To Help Sharps In UK’s Biggest Battle Of The Bands

Media coverage encouraged fans to support Norfolk band’s bid for glory

Norfolk band The Sharps have reached the semi finals of the UK’s biggest battle of the bands competition, Live & Unsigned 2010. Competing against some of London’s top unsigned acts at the Beck Theatre, Hayes, on Sunday March 28, The Sharps played original material and a cover. Judges praised the four-piece for its ‘raw energy’ and said their original number was especially strong – and put them through to the semi-final of the competition.

Just the week before the event The Sharps had put out a cry for help for support from Norfolk rock fans. "The audience reaction and votes are taken into account alongside the judges’ opinions," says lead vocalist Callum Morgan (son of our very own Tim Morgan), "so it’s really important to have some friendly faces out there. The other bands were all London-based so of course they had plenty of support. We were worried that the trip would put off our Norfolk-based fans."

In the event, thanks in part to the media coverage their plea gained, they had plenty of support from Norfolk. "We couldn’t believe it when we came on," says Callum, "there were huge cheers. It was great!"

Matt Brocklehurst of Alby was one of the Norfolk fans who made the trek. "I’ve been following the Sharps for years – they’re definitely one of the best local bands around," he says. "Great songs and a great live act. They were easily the best on the night."

Now the boys, who met at Aylsham High School, are looking forward to the next round, on May 2, at the Beck Theatre in London again. "If we get through that one, we’ll be playing at the O2 with a two-year contract up for grabs. Plus, of course, it’ll be a huge boost in terms of getting noticed."

The Sharps’ next gig is at Tommy Flynn’s in Camden High Street on 20th April.

For more information and tickets for Live & Unsigned go to the www.LiveandUnsigned.UK.com 

You can listen to the Sharps’ original songs at www.myspace.com/thesharps    

Editor’s Notes:
The Sharps, described by the Norwich Playhouse as ‘one of Norfolk’s most exciting rock bands’, and by KLFM radio as ‘brilliant’, are all 19 or 20 year olds who met at Aylsham High School.

They are: Darby Dorras, from Thurgaton, on guitar and vocals, drummer Sam Evans, from Felmingham, and twins Callum Morgan, bass and vocals, and Kieran Morgan, lead guitar and vocals, from Colby. Callum and Kieran are sons of our boss Tim Morgan. All four boys are currently at University or on gap years.

Their music is a combo of rock, Brit pop and prog, with a dash of funk, and they mix grunge guitar riffs with driving rhythms and close harmonies. Their crowd-pleasing live act is full of energy and dynamism.    

Live and Unsigned is the biggest original music competition in the UK for unsigned bands and artists. Attracting over 40,000 entries in the past three years, it has set itself apart from its predecessors by offering and promoting originality. It’s now established as the definitive music competition for original acts and it’s open to all genres of music from Heavy Rock to Rap. The value of this year’s pool of prizes amounts to over £60,000.

Celebrity judges last year included former Sex Pistols Manager Malcolm McLaren, pop RnB star Dane Bowers and Radio 1’s Annie Nightingale. Radio 1 DJ Greg James has already confirmed for 2010. Previous winners of the competition include Kiddo 360 who went on to pick up a Vodafone Live Award, B-Kay and Kazz, who broke into the top 30 charts, and last year’s winners from Glasgow, The Detours, who have just signed an exclusive clothing deal with Extreme.