COLCHESTER four-piece Vardo and the Boss need the help of their home crowd to make a big mark on the music scene.

Last summer saw the folk-rockers take to the stage alongside Mumford and Sons, Friendly Fires and Paloma Faith at the Standon Calling Festival, in Hertfordshire.

This year, after a short break, the band are doing their best to fill up their diary with as many gigs as possible to fund the recording of their debut EP, due out in August.

The group are also competing in a national battle of the bands competition and need their fans to turn up to the regional semi-final gig and vote for them.

The band – two rockers, a folk singer and a classical pianist – was only formed in June last year. But since then have honed their sound and are ready to unleash their unique blend of soul-driven folk-rock on to the nation’s ears.

The regional semi-finals the battle of the bands contest – Surface Unsigned – is just one month away.

It will be held at the Purple Turtle in Camden, London, on August 3.

Vardo and the Boss will be on stage at 9.30pm, competing with six other bands for a chance to play in the Surface Unsigned National Showcase at the IndigO2 in London.

“We’ve been working really hard to try and put together a blinding set for the semi-finals,” says singer Laura Wyatt.

“We’re up against some tough competition, but I’m sure with the people of Colchester behind us we can make it through to the next round.”

Watch this space to see how they get on.

For more information on the band go to www.myspace.com/vardoand theboss