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Andrew Marston introduces Thank The Academy (Bromsgrove)

BBC Introducing Hereford & Worcester

Unsigned, undiscovered & under-the-radar music, as recorded at The Victory in Hereford.

2 hours

Last on

Sat 27 Feb 201620:00

BBC Hereford & Worcester

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Remix Artist: Matt Envy.
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Thank The Academy are a five-piece pop/punk band from Bromsgrove.

Aged between 15 and 16, they've only been going a year and have already received national support from Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1.

They're influenced by Neck Deep, Green Day, You Me At Six and Blink-182 and as Andrew Marston puts it: "With songs like that, it's no wonder they're getting Radio 1 airplay".

All of our live studio sessions and festival gigs since 2005

It wasn't to be for a Droitwich singer who was hoping to become Britain's entry in this year's Eurovision song contest.

Pop duo Joe and Jake have been selected to represent the UK in Sweden this May.

The singers, both former contestants on The Voice UK, won a public vote with You're Not Alone, an uptempo, piano-driven song "about unity and love".

Abby Inez, who lives in Droitwich, was the bookie's favourite and performed as one half of the of the country duo Darline.

Watch Abby's BBC Introducing session

In the news: More famous names are added to the Lakefest line-up.
In the gig guide: A Worcestershire visit for DJ Judge Jules.

All this month here on BBC Hereford & Worcester we're remembering the biggest gigs in Herefordshire & Worcestershire.

And if it took place anywhere, it took place in Kidderminster.

Everyone from Fleetwood Mac to Captain Beefheart, Robert Plant to T Rex would play at Frank Freeman's.

Sadly, in 1991 Frank collapsed and died while working at the club leaving his wife Wynne to run it until it eventually closed in 2003. She died just 5 years later. We spoke to her in 2007 and hear her memories on tonight's show.

A local history of great gigs and musical legends

This month's sessions were recorded at the atmospheric Victory in Hereford.

The pub, opposite the fire station, recreates the interior of Lord Nelson's flagship and has a galleon-looking oak bar complete with cannons and tonnes of ship paraphernalia.

The performance area is a double floor that takes you back to the battle of Trafalgar with galleys, ropes and rigging - all that's missing is the smell of gunpowder!

The landlord, Jim Kenyon, has also decorated the outside wall of the pub with a WW2 mural dedicated to Help For Heroes.

This week, Andy O'Hare reviews:

Nuns Of The Tundra at The Funky Bunker, Malvern.
Wyynona Ryyder at the The Barrels, Hereford.
Ben Vickers, Polly Edwards, Mark Stevenson, Alex Pilot, Tyler Massey & Ben Stancombe at the The Firefly Open Mic Night, Worcester.

BBC Introducing in Hereford & Worcester supports unsigned, undiscovered and under-the-radar musicians from Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Since 2011, we've been taking the show out on-the-road showcasing the very best musicians from our two counties.

On Sunday 28 February, we'll be rolling up to Worley's Strings & Things at The Swan Hotel on Stourport's High Street to record several acts who we've been playing on BBC Hereford & Worcester recently.

We'll bring the bands - all we need now is the fans!

None of these artists knew they were being considered for a live session - they were chosen based on the tracks they uploaded to us.

So if you'd like to Be Part Of It then simply turn up on the day - it's free to get in - but you must be prepared to make lots of noise for local music!

Doors open at 2pm - but you're more than welcome to turn up any time until 6pm.