Young band is making an impact

11:46pm Thursday 7th February 2008

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THEY may only be 14 and 15 years old, but up-and-coming band Fuse are already one of Malvern's hottest musical properties.

Having already built up a substantial fanbase around Malvern, Fuse are now starting to attract attention further afield.

Their contemporary grunge style has already been compared to the likes of Nirvana and Evanescence, and judges at the recent Live and Unsigned Midlands talent heats in Wolverhampton were so impressed that they had no hesitation in inviting the five-piece back for the semi finals next month.

If they can impress again and make it through to the final televised stages of the competition they stand to catch the eye not only of the record industry but thousands of music lovers across the country.

Despite their tender years and only forming 15 months ago Fuse have already developed a formidable on-stage presence, and were one of the undoubted hits of last year's WestFest event.

Lead singer Ash Trafford was asked to join the band after guitarist Harley Kester saw her in the house music competition at Dyson Perrins, where the whole band goes to school.

"We all absolutely love music and being up on stage, and playing at WestFest was a really good experience," she said. "This is what we all want to be doing. It was nerve-wracking at Live and Unsigned, but a brilliant feeling when we were told we were through."

Money they have earned from gigs has gone towards laying down tracks in a professional studio, and the band hope to have an album ready to release later this year.

Fuse have lined up two gigs in Malvern as they prepare for the Live and Unsigned semi-finals. The first is during a Greenpeace benefit event at the Malvern Youth Centre on Friday, February 15, while they will also perform at The Lamb, West Malvern, on Saturday, March 1.

For more details visit www.myspace.com/fuseuk.