A PROMISING East Lancashire band is aiming for a 'massive' victory in a competition to help them take the music industry by storm.

Formed in Blackburn, Violet Youth have reached the final 30 out of 2,000 contestants in a national music development competition, Pirate Prodigies.

The band is made up of Owen Carswell, from Clayton-le Moors, guitarist Charlie Feeney from Rishton, bass player Jonny Birtwistle from Great Harwood, and drummer Jack Perry.

All between the age of 18 and 26, the group are inspired by the likes of The Smiths, The Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen.

The band said they have dreams of performing at Glastonbury but are first keen to secure a future in the music industry.

Mr Carswell, 20, said: "It would be massive to win this.

"We played around Blackburn and Clayton and all the pubs and stuff around there.

"Then we decided to take it seriously and we got signed up pretty much straight away.

"The way it all kicked off was mad.

"After I left school I tried everything else, normal jobs weren't for me and music was something I really enjoyed.

"We want all those cliches, Glastonbury main stage, Reading and Leeds Festival we want to do it.

"First we just want to make sure we give it everything we've got so we don't end up working at Asda or somewhere."

The band decided to enter after seeing a flyer at the Pirate Studios where they rehearse in Manchester, and deciding to give it a go.

They formed in 2016 and previously worked under music label Modern Sky and have performed across the world in countries such as China.

The six leading acts when the the public vote closes later this month will record a live video performance at Pirate Studios.

Judges will then pick three winners who will receive tutorship from a panel of industry experts, including one-to-one lessons and masterclasses.

They will also perform three invite-only show at Pirate Studios sites across the country.

To listen to the band visit them at www.facebook.com/VioletYouthband/.

To vote for the band visit www.piratestudios.co.uk/prodigy.