VOTING is underway in Newsquest's band competition, Local Heroes.

There are 56 bands from the Midlands who have uploaded their songs, including young funk rock band The Myth.

Their musical ability and songwriting talent provide a package that, in the words of producer Paul Cobbold who worked on their first demo EP, "deserves a much wider audience - they are one of the best young live bands I've heard in a long time".

The Myth describes their music as "retro but original funk rock - underlaid with jazz, blues and soul".

The band, formed over five years ago when at school, are still all in their teens.

From the start they played only their own material and their reputation spread by word of mouth.

Many public and private gigs have followed including a recent packed night at Bushwackers club in central Birmingham, a headlining appearance at Hereford's Courtyard, and appearances at Worcester Marrs Bar and Hereford's Cuban Blue.

Their biggest gig to date was as support act to BBC Radio 2's Folk Band of the Year, The Oysterband, at the 2005 Titley Festival attended by 1,500 people, sharing the stage with the soon to be chart-topping Nizlopi.

Their 36-minute demo CD includes their Local Heroes entry, Lava Lovin'.

Rhythm and blues band, The Dirty Fox Band, also hail from Hereford.

To support these local entries, as well as to hear some great new music, log on to http://localheroes.newsquest.co.uk