Lavengro secure coveted Electric Picnic spot after Battle of Bands

The five Derry lads were announced the winners from among the 48 bands who thrashed it out during a series of live heats in Dublin over the past number of weeks.

The band consists of lead singer Gareth Barrow, bass player Emmet McDaid, guitarist Dave Healy and his twin brother, drummer James Healy, Jack Kyle on keyboards and synth.

The boys are all in their early 20s and Gareth is already well known as back in 2008 he reached the finals of the televised ‘I’d Do Anything’ competition to find an Oliver Twist for An Andrew Lloyd Webber production of the musical.

The boys went up against the cream of emerging talent at the famous Whelan’s Bar in Dublin and Jonathan Borrow, band manager and brother of Gareth, said they were shocked and delighted to have come out on top in the competition, which was judged by the audience.

“Everybody is on a high still,” Jonathan said.

“The band went down two months ago and they won the first heat and got through to the final of the competition, which is run by King Kong Promoters.

“We were the only band down from Derry and we travelled the furthest as well. They were on first in the final and it was off the bus and straight on to the stage.

“At that time only about 30% of the crowd was there whereas later at the end it was absolutely jammed. We thought we were beat and were sitting in the beer garden and it was a massive shock to win.

“It has definitely given the boys a lot of confidence to keep her lit, keep writing songs and to do as many gigs as we can.

The band are described as a high energy, synth/pop band performing their self-penned pumping tunes, and have been gathering fans through local gigs at Bennigans, Masons and recent appearances at the Foyle Maritime Festival and Music City.

“It’s stuff to get you up off your feet,” Jonathan said. “The music is radio friendly and we are hoping we can actually break out and start getting more gigs and winning the Battle of the Bands should open more doors for us. This is a big chance to network with other bands and promoters. The band will be recording a single soon and an album.”

Lavengro will take to the Oxjam Abner Browns Tent stage at Electric Picnic on Friday, September 2.

Tickets for this year’s Electric Picnic have now sold out, and Lavengro will be sharing the bill at this year’s festival with headliners including the Chemical Brothers and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

Check out Lavengro’s Facebook page and Twitter @Lavengro for more information on the band.