Band singledout by SnowPatrol frontman

Lightbody, who runs artist development company Third Bar, along with Davy Matchett, has selected the band to receive the second annual Bushmills Live Legacy Fund.

They’ll receive £5,000 as well as a slot at this year’s Bushmills Live on June 12 alongside Lightbody’s Tired Pony and The 1975.

The team at Third Bar will be working with Levity Breaks to offer advice on how to invest their fund, including recording and touring costs.

Jonny McGuinness of Levity Breaks told the ‘MAIL’: “We couldn’t put a price on the guidance we will get from the likes of Gary Lightbody and Davy Machett.

“The fund will give us the financial boost we need to take care of touring and recording costs etc.

“We have been privileged to play on some great stages, but Bushmills Live will be special for us because of the uniqueness of the distillery and the influential people who could be watching us.

“Supporting a band that has members of REM, Snow Patrol, Belle & Sebastian, etc will be an absolute honour and such a learning experience for us. We grew up listening to those bands and now we’ll be sharing a stage with them.”

Levity Breaks formed in mid-2010. They released their single ‘The Floor’ (available on iTunes) in September 2011 and released their debut EP ‘Maudlin’ on October 6, 2013. It is available through MondoTunes in all major online digital music stores.

Between the band, as individuals, they have previously toured with artists such as Snow Patrol, Buzzcocks, British Sea Power, Iain Archer, The La’s, Bell X1, The Frames, Nine Black Alps, The Ordinary Boys, and Passenger, and have featured at prestigious festivals such as Oxegen, T-Vital and The Electric Picnic. Members of the band have also recorded sessions for Universal Publishing under producer Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols.

Davy Matchett of Third Bar, is a big fan. He said: “This band is a great example of the brilliant Northern Ireland music talent around at the moment. I love watching them live, their harmonies are perfect and I’m a fan of their material on ‘Maudlin’, their debut EP.

“Gary and I set up Third Bar together to pass on all we’ve learned about the music industry to up-and-coming artists like these guys. It is great that Bushmills is prepared to help us support this talent financially and also give them a stage at Bushmills Live. Gary will be there to perform with Tired Pony and we are both looking forward to enjoying the Levity Breaks set.”