It was music to their ears when Gentlemen of Few discovered they had made it to the final 10 of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards.

Members of the bluegrass folk band are from Deal, Walmer, Dover and River and have been gigging at Kent and London venues since they started three years ago.

Now they have the opportunity to perform at an awards concert in Kendal on Friday, October 18, from which only four acts will go through to the main awards in February.

Jarrod Piner, 17, of Mongeham Road, Deal, is the band's pianist, accordionist and backing vocalist. He said: “It was a massive surprise, we were a late entry. We had to send off a couple of songs and then we were told we’re through to the last 10 in England.

“We’re just going to go and enjoy ourselves and if it gets just one more person interested then that’s great. I think its important to stay grounded.

"It’s just great that more people will get to hear our music. It’s the only thing that we are really passionate about and we’ve given lots of commitment to. It’s such a big part of our lives now.”

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

The band are all studying music and performance arts and their new single Room to Grow Without the Damage of Time will be launched in December.