AN up-and-coming Kidderminster band, who have been recreating their live sound in the studio, are looking forward to a busy year ahead.

The Amateurs, made up of singer and guitarist, Matthew Colley, 25, Andrew Fletcher, 26, on bass guitar and drummer, Marcus Jones, 26, have been working on a new three-track EP titled Let the Sun Shine.

It has been recorded over a series of days at Yellow Shark Studios in Cheltenham with engineer, Gareth Williams and co-producer, Neil Ivison, frontman of The Shakedown, and follows the 2004 five-track EP, Red Sky.

The musicians will be in the studio mixing the recording, which will also feature Kidderminster cellist, Rachel Thomas, on Saturday, and plan to send it to record and management companies, radio stations and venues across the country.

Matthew said: "We have got a lot going on this year and we are looking forward to it. By the end of the year, we hope to have had enough interest to have secured some sort of deal, whether it is with a management, publishing or record company.

"We hope that the recording will be a good representation of our live performances. It is a very difficult thing to achieve with the technology available in studios these days.

"Anyone can sound great with the right amount of money but not everyone can live up to their recordings on stage.

"There has also been a significant rise in band venues and people interested in going to see live music."

The band's first gig will be a return visit to The Caernarvon Castle in Camden, London on Saturday, February 18.

They have also entered a live bands competition, run in association with Emergenza, which starts in Birmingham on Friday, March 10 at The Actress and Bishop.

Matthew said: "I don't know how far we expect to get but, if we get past the first three rounds, it progresses to London, which will be really good.

"Then it goes international and you get to play at a festival in Germany," he added.

The Amateurs are also hoping to finalise dates at several London venues, including The Garage, and hope to play gigs at The Boar's Head Taphouse, Kidderminster throughout the year as well as a show in Paris.

For further information about the band, visit www.amateurs.co.uk