AN EXCITING pop punk band which came to life in Pershore have launched their bid for this year’s Christmas number one and a £100,000 recording deal.
The Purple Shades have entered the ‘A Brand New Artist for Christmas 2015’ competition which will see the winners receiving a £100,000 recording agreement at Negart Records LTD.
The competition is about finding a recording artist who will be the centre of a huge campaign to top the UK charts over Christmas this year.
And organisers hope to secure at least a top ten hit in the Official UK Singles Chart and promises a big PR drive behind the competition, but the number one spot is the aim.
Three of the teenage group, Dylan Boddy (lead singer and rhythm guitar), Sam Hennerley (drums) and Charlie Brooks (bass) met when they were at Pershore High School in 2011.
And the exciting group of talented teens were joined in March 2014 by lead guitarist George Bowles, who is a former Prince Henry’s High School pupil in Evesham.
The Purple Shades are an alternative rock/indie/pop band who write and self produce original music but also have a repertoire of covers and recently played at the O2 Academy Birmingham.
And the group already have a programme of gigs and festivals planned for 2015 from their first album ‘Wit of the Staircase’.
The band’s front man, Dylan Boddy, told the Observer: “When we first saw the competition we thought it was some sort of battle of the bands set up, but when we looked closer we realised how big the competition is and just thought why not go for it as we got nothing to lose.
“We want to get our name and songs out there during the build up through gigs and we hope to put Pershore on the music map.”
They will be releasing their first single ‘Addicted to You’ from the album at a gig they are promoting themselves at Pershore Town Football Club next Saturday (April 18).
The group will be supported by another Worcester band, Royal Ascent and former band member Jack Seckham, who is now a solo artist.
The competition’s voting lines are now open at www.brand-new-artist.com and close at midnight on Tuesday, June 30.
Visit www.thepurpleshades.com for more information about the group and their music.
