TEENAGE indie band The Poison Berries, featured by the Recorder in January, are just one step away from performing at the O2, having made it through to the area final of the prestigious Live and Unsigned competition. The fourpiece – Matt Mason, 12, of Hea

TEENAGE indie band The Poison Berries, featured by the Recorder in January, are just one step away from performing at the O2, having made it through to the area final of the prestigious Live and Unsigned competition.

The fourpiece - Matt Mason, 12, of Headley Drive, Gants Hill, Kat Charkov, 17, of Armstead Walk, Dagenham, Joe Giddings, 17, of Marshalls Drive, Romford, and Dean MacDonald, 18, of Parkside Avenue, Romford - impressed judges in a live regional final at the Towngate Theatre, Basildon.

Now they will perform at the theatre again on May 22 in the London & East area final.

Winners from that will go to the national final at the O2, North Greenwich on July 10, where around 20 acts will battle it out for a two-year management and recording contract.

The January audition was the first time The Poison Berries had performed.

They have since played at Cricklefields Sports and Social Club, Ilford, and The Bridgehouse II, Canning Town,performing all original material.

Drummer Matt, a pupil at Oaks Park School, Oaks Park, Newbury Park, said: "We've been working in the studio my dad built in my back garden."

You can download two tracks on your mobile. Go to m.ilfordrecorder.co.uk and click on downloads.