OKEHAMPTON rock band DownFall have done the town proud by beating musicians and bands from across the country to be named 'Brand New Artist 2015' in a national competition.

Since April 1 the band, comprising Jake and Mack Hodgson, Karl Little and Nathan Bostock, have been working hard to try and secure the Brand New Artist 2015 crown. The competition organised by Neil Garton looks to promote the best unsigned talent in the country with the aim of making the competition winner reach the Christmas number 1 spot on the charts.

The winner receives a £100,000 recording contract with Negart Records.

The competition celebrates originality in a recording artist and looks to bring something new to the Christmas charts and beyond.

In September the band will enter the recording studio and start recording their material for the Christmas campaign. Once finished they will shoot a music video which could air on music channels like MTV.

The band's manager and father to Jake and Mack, Chris Hodgson, said the four lads were very excited to have won and were looking forward to their contract with Negart Records coming through.

He said: 'It means a fantastic amount to the lads. For Mack and Nathan the news is definitely still sinking in and they can't quite believe what has happened.

'As for Jake and Karl, they are both a little older and they recognise what a great opportunity it is.

'Everyone has got a dream of what they'd like to do — maybe be a footballer, a model, a musician, whatever — and this is an opportunity for the four of them to try and achieve that dream.

'They're not daft. They know they are not going to be overnight sensations and that success takes years and years. But this is an opportunity to go out there. Who knows what it will bring? But it is the start of a journey for them.'

One hundred acts started the competition. The acts could climb the rankings by securing votes from their supporters. Throughout the entire competition, DownFall have performed strongly, staying near the top of the leaderboard for the majority of the event.

Chris said the support for the band from people in Okehampton had been unprecedented.

'We have bombarded people — we've posted things through their letterbox, we have posted loads of stuff on social media.

'People could have got sick of it and told us to get lost but they have really got behind it. We've had tremendous support from everywhere, from the college to Okehampton Cycles to everywhere.'

Among the band's biggest supporters during the competition have been Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade.

Members of the chamber have been encouraged to submit votes for the band throughout the competition, which has also been highlighted at their meetings.

Chamber of Trade chair Donna Tombs said: 'It is absolutely fantastic news for the lads that they have managed to win Brand New Artist 2015.

'It is a wonderful achievement for them and something they should all be very proud of.

'We were very happy to support them and we are glad to see them succeed.

'It is great for Okehampton to be represented by these lads and highlight not only the town but its Battle of the Bands competition and talented musicians in the area.

'Congratulations to DownFall, we could not be happier for them.'

The group has been playing original material since April 2013 and have played well over 100 shows including venues such as The White Rabbit and The Junction in Plymouth, The Cavern in Exeter, Tavistock Wharf and Chagstock Festival. They play their own brand of original hard rock plus a few classic covers delivered with their own twist.

The band's first performance since their victory is tonight (July 9) at the Charter Hall in the latest heat of the Okehampton Battle of the Bands competition. For more information on the band visit http://www.downfallrocks.co.uk">www.downfallrocks.co.uk