Harrow band story (the second version)

A HARROW band dazzled the crowd in the biggest original music competition Live and Unsigned which is just like The X Factor.

Toxic Funk Berry, with its originality and unique performance style, impressed the judging panel at the Midlands final on May 8, and is now set to showcase their talent at the grand final The Live and Unsigned Festival in July.

The competition, attracted more than 30,000 entries in the past three years across the country, aims to promote unsigned acts and offer all genres music to audience.

Joe Berditch, 26, of Fernbrook Drive, Harrow, bass and synthesizer player of the band, said: “We feel good to reach the final, a lot of industry people will be at the final, and we are really looking forward to it.

“The competition is just like The X Factor. If we win we will work with someone in the industry, it is very helpful for us to get experience and achieve things.”

The act, formed by Joe and his brother Dom, a 29-year-old drummer, have been making electro-funk music for a couple of years and appeared often in north London's bars and clubs.

Jonny Wharton, 26, the guitarist and synthesizer player then teamed up with the two to form the band.

The three will play their music in front of the industry's biggest names such as the Slade frontman Noddy Holder, Radio 1's prime time presenter Greg Jamesl, RnB artist Shola Ama; and urban music DJ and Radio 1's Ras Kwame.

They will be performing on July 10 at The O2, Greenwich, south-east London.

Joe said: “We are not the traditional band and we are not the band to be categorised.

“We play quite unique music and have unique performance style.

“We use lap top and synthesizer, we interact with people and make the crowd move and dance with us.”

Chris Grayston, events director of Live and Unsigned, said: “The competition is all about originality, live ability and credibility.

“It's a fantastic achievement to make it to the grand final, and we've got some fantastic judges on board.”

The band will also tour Brighton, Bath, Barcelona and Germany before final in July.

The Midlands heat was held at the Corn Exchange at Saint Paul's Square in Bedford.

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