Three-piece alternative rock band Cure Caballo are making no bones about their ambitions to hit the big-time.
The group are preparing for an appearance in the BurySOUND competition at Bury St Edmunds' Corn Exchange on October 23, where they are hoping to impress the judges and win a spot in the final.
Consisting of bassist Aaron Jeffries and brothers Callum and Joe Dobson, on lead guitar and drums, the trio originally formed as a tribute band to Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro but quickly decided they preferred writing their own material.
And they have spent the last year developing their sound at the British Academy of New Music, in London, where they also gleaned a wealth of information about the music industry.
Aaron said: "The academy was wonderful. It helped us evolve into a more mature sound and away from some of the childish stuff we had come up with when we started.
"We applied for the course two months after the deadline but we got an audition and they accepted us onto the course, which was great. We really developed and learnt how to present ourselves as a band, and I think it's really helped with our sound.
"We're definitely a band that's striving towards getting signed. That's our goal at the moment. If you haven't got that dream there's little point."
The group are planning to book a tour and record an album before the end of the year – and they are also hoping a few friendly faces will be in the audience when they play BurySOUND, having gained fans after gigging in London and other towns.
"We have got a little following," said Aaron. "I'm certainly looking forward to it. I really prefer being out there on stage, although the other two prefer the creative part of writing.
"I just love the buzz of the crowd. I really like expressing myself through playing live."
If the band are lucky enough to go through to final after their heat, they stand a chance of winning £250 in vouchers for Soundsplus, in Bury, two days recording at The Shrubbery Café and Recording Studios and 100 CDs from Infallible Duplication.
Their music can be heard online at
www.myspace.com/curecaballoVisit us on myspace at
www.myspace.com/bfpbands