A LLANDUDNO indie band have rocketed through to the live battle of the bands final at the biggest snowboarding festival in the world.
Catfish & The Bottlemen, who formed in January 2009, are one of only four bands looking to be crowned Gigwise’s King Of The Mountain at the annual Snowbombing event in Austria.
Held in Mayrhofen, this year’s festival has secured big names like FatBoy Slim, The Editors, The Doves and The Enemy, who will be performing live over a week of what promises to be the best show on snow.
Catfish & The Bottlemen were among 151 other bands from across Europe who put themselves forward for the competition.
Guitarist and vocalist Ryan Van McCann, 17, explained: “We chose one of our tracks and sent it in. We then found out we had been picked and then put forward for the final few.”
Competition organisers reduced the mammoth list to just 20 bands, who then faced a public vote on the website.
“We got through to the final four so we get to go to Austria,” said Ryan. “We play the first live gig of the festival. We’re well chuffed.
“It’s definitely one of the biggest shows we'll have played. We're well looking forward to it.”
Travelling out to Austria with Ryan will be bandmates Billy Bibby, 19, on guitar and vocals, bass player Benji Blakeway, 19, and drummer Jon Barr, 20.
But inclusion in the competition means the band have to pay their own way.
Ryan added: “That’s the only downfall. We have to pay for our own flights and accommodation while we’re out there. We're looking for sponsorship to help us out. Anything really - even if it’s a warm coat!”
The final four bands will be playing on the small stage at the Snowbombing festival on April 8, with judges from the music industry deciding the winner.
Whoever is crowned King Of The Mountain will then support The Whip.
Scott Colothan, editor of GigWise, told the Pioneer it was a great opportunity for any band due to the high levels of exposure as well as the 2,000 euro prize.
He said: “It’s the world’s biggest snowboarding festival and we have a fantastic line-up. It's a great platform for a band.”