East Kent band Gentlemen of Few are on their way to London’s Royal Albert Hall for tonight's BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

The bluegrass folk band first performed in Kendal along with other acts from across the country for a chance to win the folk award, in November.

They were announced as one of the final four acts in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk category live on air in December.

Tonight they will go head to head with Hattie Briggs, Granny’s Attic and The Mischa Macpherson Trio in a bid to headline Cambridge Folk Festival.

Jarrod Piner, 17, of Mongeham Road, Deal, pianist, accordionist and backing vocalist said: “We’re all feeling nervous but excited. To have got to the finals is good enough.

“We’ve loved every act that has got through. We’ve been spellbound by them.

“It honestly has just been about the experience. It’s been an experience, not a competition.”

The other members of the band are Elliott Norris, 16, guitar and banjo, Reece Forward, 16, lead vocals and playing bass, and Luke ‘Kit’ Evans, 17, banjo.

Jarrod added: “If we do win, it will be a great boost. It will do us a lot of favours.”

There will be live coverage of the event on Radio 2 and the Radio 2 website, from 8pm tonight. Full live coverage can be seen by pressing the red button from any BBC TV channel on your digital television.