Music critics in California praised the band Flood at the Orange County 2002 Music Awards (OCMA) which were held recently in California.

Winning the award is a fantastic achievement for the band, and we hope that it will open up many opportunities for us in the UK and the US

Kev Lewis

Flood won the Best International Music category, ahead of four other bands, including groups from Sweden and Ireland.

The band - Nick Skinner, Darran Davies, Kev Lewis, Sean Connell and Bill Jenkins - received excellent reviews for their first full-length album release Cats and Trumpets.

They were nominated for the award after US producer and music magazine publisher Martin Brown, submitted the album to OCMA's panel of judges.

The current line-up of the band has been together for two years.

They describe their brand of music as a mixture varying from "rock/funk to acoustic vibes".

Blur's Damon Albarn: Major influence

The band classifies its influences as ranging from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Blur, Black Crowes to Reef.

"Winning the award is a fantastic achievement for the band, and we hope that it will open up many opportunities for us in the UK and the US," said bass player Kev Lewis.

"We are already talking to a programme producer in the US about using one of the songs from the album on a programme he is hoping to sell to a major channel."

Most of the band belong to the West Wales branch of the Musicians' Union.

Gary Martin, West Wales Branch Secretary for the MU said: "Flood are an excellent band, who have worked extremely hard to break into the music industry."

"Awards such as the Orange County Music Awards can sometimes be a launch platform for unsigned bands - and I'm sure this award will open up further opportunities for them."

Flood's next gig is at The Waterfront in Haverfordwest on 1 June.