PULSE - music and more, with Simon Donohue

THE call of the world-famous Cavern Club has been heard in the Rossendale Valley.

Now local band The Whirlybirds are set to follow in the footsteps of The Beatles at the venue.

Although the original club was demolished several years ago, the replacement Cavern is regarded as the spiritual home of the Liverpool stage that launched the careers of the Fab Four, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black, and many more.

And the five piece - boasting no less than three guitarists and a girl drummer - hope it will do the same for them.

"We want to be careful about which record company we sign with in the end," said lead singer Mike Smith.

"The Cavern is a great showcase for us. We are certainly the most original songwriters around at the moment and I'm sure we'll be winning the Brit Award for best new band in a year or so's time!" Strong stuff from a band without a deal, but they are confident that they possess a winning formula with their ability to produce "original music with mass appeal, and yet still retain that certain credibility factor".

Style-wise they have already been likened to numerous groups from Oasis to The Smiths - "We're like Oasis with O levels," says bass player Pete Waterhouse - and from Crowded House to REM.

While guitarist John Collins describes the band as "the Levi's 501's of the future of music".

"We're enduring, stylish and totally cool," he adds.

"We write catchy tunes with integrity - we are the best band in Rossendale, if not the world!"

The band are hoping for a glut of record company A & R men at the gig on April 30, but just in case they plan to take a coach load of their own supporters along for good measure.

If anyone would like further information about the band or would like to attend the gig - or book the Whirlybirds for a local gig - they can contact their manager Chris Smith on 01925 762859.

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