2008 looks to be an exciting year for Manchester 's 'Battle Of The Band' Bury Met 2007 WINNERS, 'Bright Kicks', consisting of four focused and ambitious souls drawn together through a mutual passion of music.

After all cutting their teeth in previous bands for a few years around manchester, ther origins begin with Darryn Clarke guitar and David Whitworth drums locked away in a rehearsal room jamming the hours away, first and foremeost for the enjoyment of simply being able to play music again. gradually, as the weeks, months passed by, without a care for the outside world or latest flavour of the month, this rejuvinated state of mind was quietly spawning new material both were new to and stimulated by at the same time.

With a hefty selection of new music laid out, the time was to begin recruiting and see how a voice would fit on top of their latest sound. forward 6 months, empty promises and general false starts that had to be nipped in the bud, still no vocalist. that is of course, until a promising assured singer from Didsbury chased an ad up. Enter vocalist Bobby Magee, inspired by the likes of Robert Plant, Roger Daltry to Ray Charles and James Brown he has developed an individual style with clear soulful melodies, mix this together with an undeniable stage presence and talent that craves to be on stage holding a mic, you find thankfully not another Ian Brown ,not another Liam Gallagher, but a new individual. All that was needed now was bass duties.

And so a few more months pass, the odd bass player arrives, but no joy. until Bobby invites a 'friend of a friend ' down to jam. Enter Greg Kelly, hailing from reddish. Never one who followed the 'mad fer it ' crowd, Greg was schooled on funk, jazz, reggae while also tipping his hat to rock ensures bass playing beyond his years.

So with the complete lineup 'Bright Kicks' finally stepped out of the shadows at the Attic in Manchester at the tail end of December 2006. And the long wait proved justified, within a year of solid gigging around the north west the band were already making noises. Even when sharing gig slots with signed bands, one notable occasion found the headliners in the front row dancing away to the bright kicks sound. Elsewhere one of the biggest crowds the band played to was at a student festival, but due to unforeseen circumstances a last minute reshuffle saw the band effortlessly play as a 3 piece with no bass and still they rocked the crowd.

With momentum gathering, and being courted by various London management companies the band eventually decided to keep things closer to home by signing with newly formed elev8artists. Rumours of major record label interest have sparked a small yet ever growing fanbase, keen for the antidote of the diluted sound of local accents on the radio singing about myspace. Big name producers and remixers have given them the thumbs up and are keen to get on board as the band are making plans to record their debut album starting March 1st. After headlining their first big gig at Manchester Academy on the 23rd of February, plans for more gigs are in the works, make sure you catch them where you can!