A YOUNG band is looking forward to its first taste of the big stage this month after bursting on to the local music scene.

The Patriots, an up and coming four-piece indie group, have been making a name for themselves at venues and pubs around the town.

The teenage band, from Sutton Leach, consists of lead vocalist Liam Abbott, lead guitarist Connor Duffy, both aged 17, bass guitarist Brad Owen, and on drums Luke Burrows.

All four met as pupils at St Cuthberts, where Brad and Luke, both aged 15, are in their final year at the school and Liam and Connor now at Carmel College.

The group also performed at last summer’s Westfield Street Festival the Rainhill and Rainford festivals.

And they are looking forward to another big event in the town after being invited to the GPW Recruitment St Helens 10k, where they will entertain runners by playing from the bandstand on Victoria Park.

The four of them will get their first experience of the big stage when they perform at the O2 Academy, in Liverpool later this month as the support act to the Clone Roses.

“They started when they got thrown together in school where they did a concert, they came and practised in our garage,” says manager Daz Owen, dad of bassist Brad.

“From then on they’ve practised there and have got a few gigs round the pubs in town and we’ve got some big gigs coming up with the O2 supporting the Clone Roses.

“They so far have four of their own songs and have recorded three and have their own YouTube channel.

“It is indie music they do and they have done covers of groups like the Stone Roses, the Libertines.

“But they’re now quite intent on writing their own stuff and after a month in January are straight back into the gigs now.

“They’re all level-headed and don’t think that they know it all. They take things on board and venues have them back.”

For details visit their website at: thepatriotsofficial.co.uk or the group’s Facebook page.