WHEN The Who legend Roger Daltrey phoned to wish young band The Bark luck they knew they must be doing something right.The Bark, from Framlingham, have just won the MGD Undiscovered National Band Competition and now they have a recording contract and success within their grasp.

WHEN The Who legend Roger Daltrey phoned to wish young band The Bark luck they knew they must be doing something right.

The Bark, from Framlingham, have just won the MGD Undiscovered National Band Competition and now they have a recording contract and success within their grasp.

The finals were held at the Ocean Club in Hackney, London on November 2 and with a phone call from Roger just minutes before they went on stage the band were all left a little shell-shocked.

"We have always been involved in supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust charity and one of their patrons is Roger Daltrey," said band member Nick Webb.

"He called just before we went on stage so there was I standing outside the club in Hackney in the rain speaking to him.

"It was really nice of him to make the effort to speak to this young band and he was a nice guy and asked us to get him an album to listen to.

"I didn't realise how excited I was about the whole night until after we played the gig. It was fantastic and we didn't know exactly what was on offer for us until afterwards," Nick added.

The band have won a single deal with Andy Pickles, one of the judges and head of Music Factory. There will also be an advertising campaign with HMV for the release of the single and £20,000 will be spent on promotion and advertising.

The competition was decided by five judges, four of which were people from the music industry, including Virgin and EMI.

The Evening Star featured the band back in May when they had just finished recording their self-financed album. Recorded in a rickety old barn in the middle of rural Suffolk it was a long was from the night of their competition success.

But it shows just as clearly the dedication and determination this five-piece band from Framlingham have when it comes to their music.

They are an explosive band who are set to bring live music in to the 21st century. An eclectic mix of soul vibes and earthy folk and rock which sit comfortably with harmonicas, cornets and violins.

"The time seems to be just right for us now and I think the music industry needs a new and refreshing take on the guitar bands we are so used to.

"We were told that all four of the music people voted for us which makes it that bit better.

"You struggle for so long writing and performing and sometimes wondering if it is really all worth it. You do it because it is your passion. It is just so nice to have some industry backing and know that these people believe in you as much as you do, " added Nick, who is currently in Suffolk writing new material for the band.

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www.thebark.co.uk