Band hoping to get their kicks in London

GLENGORMLEY-BASED band The Kicks are just one step away from playing London's O2 Arena after they made it through to the area finals of a UK music competition.

After auditioning against thousands of other acts across the UK and impressing the judging panel with their originality, they recently went on to perform live on stage at the Live and Unsigned regional final in Hayes. They will now be performing for a place at the national Grand Final at the O2 Arena in July.

They dazzled the crowd with their winning performance of a cover of Nancy Sinatra's 'These Boots Were Made for Walking' and their own original 'Back on Top'. They're now set to perform at the area final on May 2, when Radio 1's Annie Nightingale and Urban DJ, presenter Ras Kwame, will be part of the judging panel.

Band member Barry Caddell, who lives in the Collinbridge area of Glengormley, said: "We have only been together six months but hard work has helped us get plenty of gigs and a place in the area final of this competition."

Read the full story in this week's Times...