A BAND through to the regional finals of Live and Unsigned say they are hoping to “make it big” as they prepare to perform to fans.

Indie and folk band Mackley Drive, named after a road in Corringham, will perform at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon at the end of February to try to make it to the next round of the competition.

The band, who write their own songs, is made up of lead singer Joshua Woo, 18, of Lyndhurst Road, Corringham, drummer James Moss, 17, from Brentwood, pianist Joe Ludlow, 15, from Basildon, who goes to Gable Hall School in Corringham, and bassist John Dow, 18, from Ramsden Heath, Billericay.

Joshua, who is taking a gap year and working as a guitar tutor in Thurrock, said: “We hope to go far and make it big, we have big ambitions and really want to make it.

“We are a good band and I really hope we get to the finals.

“We went to the auditions at the beginning of January and were really pleased to get through.”

The band need to get as many people as possible to the St Martins Square theatre and tickets can be bought from members of the band.

Joshua added: “We want as many people to come as possible and support us, we will go further in the competition if we can show we have lots of fans.”

Joshua explained that the name of the band came about when the boys were driving home from practice one night and they went past Mackley Drive in Corringham and thought it would be a good name for the band.

Tickets can be bought from members of the band for £7.50 each and they will be performing on Saturday, February 26, and doors open from 12.15pm.

Your can e-mail the band on mackleydriveband@hotmail.co.uk or log on to their Facebook site at www.facebook.com/mackleydrive