NEXT up in our weekly plug for local bands taking part in the Live and Unsigned competition are Housework.

They were one of 14 acts from Colchester who sailed through the auditions of Live and Unsigned, the UK’s biggest original music competition.

They will now be competing at the regional live show at the Corn Exchange, in Ipswich, on April 10, with the aim of making it through to the Live and Unsigned Festival at the 02 in London.

Housework are a five-piece outfit who have been gigging original songs in the local area for just over eight months.

Their sound is rooted in funk, soul, jazz and blues, but they like to inject some clout in the form of rock guitar riffs and powerful solos.

Made up of Richard Mann (rhythm guitar), Matthew Kelly (drums), Jon Cook (lead guitar), Paul Cook (bass guitar), Pete Townshend (vocals), reviewers have already compared their sound to the likes of James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin.

Recent gigs include Essex Rocks, but, following the Live and Unsigned regional final, you will be able to catch them at Trotters Bar on April 17, Dirty Penguin on May 9, Stowfest on June 6 and Ipswich Music Day on July 4.