DOORS are already starting to open for a fledgling East Tynedale band, despite them only forming a year ago.

Teenage alternative rock group Open Doors will cap a whirlwind 12 months by appearing on stage at Newcastle’s O2 Academy after booking their place in the regional final of the SoundWave Music Competition.

During the last year the four piece, consisting of vocalist Bethany Veal (17), drummer Lawrie Shrimpton (17), both of Prudhoe, bass guitarist Calum Bruce (16), of Stocksfield, and guitarist Tom Kennedy (16), of Ovingham, have recorded and released a four- track EP and have a repertoire of nine original songs at this early stage.

And the hard-working youngsters hope it’s a sign of things to come as they start to attract attention locally.

Calum said: “When you think that we’ve recorded an EP and written so many songs, and have a gig at the O2 to look forward to in January, then it is pretty crazy.

“It’s really exciting and I can’t wait. It feels kind of funny as, at the beginning of the competition, there were 300 to 400 people, so it was quite daunting.

“But when the numbers get smaller, it starts boosting your confidence and we feel it’s a massive achievement to make the final 14.”

To reach the January 30 showdown, Open Doors had to pass three audition stages, which included a request for Bethany to sing down the phone to the judges!

She explained: “I was at a sixth form party and the organisers rang me and asked if I would mind singing for them, and it was bizarre as it wasn’t the most ideal place to do it!”

Other stages included a closed audition in front of judges and a public appearance at Newcastle’s Head of Steam venue.

And the quartet are thrilled to have received such positive feedback throughout the process.

Bethany said: “It’s been quite different to playing gigs, and we got to play at Head of Steam which was pretty cool.

“The competition has been good and the judges said it was good that we were a young band writing original songs because they hadn’t seen much of that.”

Calum added: “They were really quite surprised by how accomplished we sounded for people so young, and they complimented us by saying we had a polished sound.

“The competition process has been stressful as there was a long delay to find out if we had got through, but it’s all been quite rewarding.”

Open Doors has been treating local crowds to their collection of self-penned tracks, with highlights including stints at Stocksfield Festival and their debut appearance at the Hearth at Horsley.

Rattling through the songwriting process, they were able to record their first EP, Merge, at an early stage.

The band booked the Fuse Media Centre in Prudhoe for two weeks after finishing their GSCEs and put their four tracks out there for all to hear.

Calum said: “I really enjoyed the whole process of being in a studio, and it’s been a good experience to do things properly. It’s great having our music out there, and we all love the end product.”

They have come an impressively long way for a band which formed just a year ago, at Prudhoe High School.

Bethany, Lawrie and Tom started the band, with Calum joining a short time later, as he had been in bands with Tom and Lawrie in the past.

With this line-up they are all taking things more seriously and believe they can go far. Calum said: “To pay a compliment to Beth, I think she has a unique voice and that’s because she has a sort of country feel to it.

“The mixing of country and rock is a really nice blend. We have got a variety of styles and can go back and forth into genres; it keeps things new and makes sure it doesn’t go stale.”

Bethany added: “Tom being so talented at music helps us get the different songs together, and the band seems to work really well.”

Tickets for the SoundWave Music Competition can be purchased via the band at www.facebook.com/opendoorsbanduk.