A WYRE Forest-based guitar band, which recently reached the final of a Battle of the Bands competition, is looking forward to a promising new year.

Viva Finito, which has members from Stourport and Bewdley, battled it out against Mr Derry at the Robin 2 in Bilston on Monday last week.

The band, members of which met at Bewdley High School, will be following the contest with a gig at The Talbot in Bewdley tonight.

Viva Finito is Colin Stevenson on vocals and guitar, Ade Arnold, 25, on bass, Jim Booton, 24, on drums and Andy Stevenson, 28, on bass.

They met at Bewdley High School and have spent time in the studio recording their first demo.

It was the first Battle of the Bands contest the group had taken part in and 54 bands were whittled down to just two for the final.

Jim said: "Viva Finito had a great time playing in the final against a great band called Mr Derry.

"It was the closest final they have ever had, as there were only 10 points between them and the winner.

"We were pleased to get so far. We have only been back together as a band for eight or nine months so we consider it quite good that we haven't been in the same line-up for very long but we went through to the finals."

He said the band were looking forward to 2006, adding: "In the new year, Viva Finito are set to explode, with more monster tunes and gigs, playing all over the country due to the superb management that joined the camp in September."

On Sunday, January 8 they will play at the Rock Garden, Covent Garden, London and then the following night they are taking part in the Battle of the Bands competition at the Little Civic in Wolverhampton.

For further information, visit www.vivafinito.co.uk