Kilmarnock band is one step from stardom

May 8 2009 by Stef Lach, Kilmarnock Standard

UP-AND-COMING pop band CircleStop! are one step closer to stardom after winning the regional finals of a nationwide talent search.

The Kilmarnock electro rockers saw off the challenge of 15 other acts at the regional finals of the Live and Unsigned 2009 competition in Newcastle at the weekend.

A busload of 60 CircleStop! fans travelled south to watch the event at the Journal Tyne Theatre on Saturday and roared their favourites to victory.

They will appear in the grand final in Portsmouth on Saturday, June 27, where the overall winner will be awarded a management contract, a recording deal and £20,000 to get their careers off to a flying start.

Synth player Scott Kirkwood, 17, said: “I think on the day we were the band that put on a performance for the crowd and gave them something to watch as well as hear.

“Maybe some of the other bands just got up there and played their songs and that’s what gave us the edge.

“As well as that we had 60 noisy fans with us and they made a big difference.

“We played two songs, a cover of Rihanna’s Umbrella and one of our own songs, Copied and Pasted.

“The judges gave us some great comments and last year’s winners, Kiddo 360, were there as special guests and they really liked us too.

“For 16 bands to be playing and us to go through is amazing.”

Scott and his bandmates Jonny Griffen, Graeme Hogg, Danny Wilson and Darren Black hope to make a career in the music industry.

But the band’s dream was almost over before it started when some faulty equipment threatened to wreck their chances.

A laptop that Scott uses to play samples failed at the vital moment. Scott said: “The laptop wouldn’t work because of a loose connection and it happened right at the start of our set.

“The stage engineer came on and sorted it but it was a very long and nervous 30 seconds.”

They recovered to put in a storming performance and book their place in the grand final.

The band hope to take a load of fans to the final. To get involved, contact CircleStop! via their website at myspace.com/circlestop