Peterborough musicians ready for gig with The Vamps

Dylan Gallager, from Peterborough, and Joe Schollar, from Huntingdon, play in Sacred Nations, who landed runners-up spot in a Battle of the Bands competition in Norfolk.

Over four months, there were nine heats and two semi-finals before the big moment arrived. Nearly 40 bands were whittled down to a final six and Sacred Nations took second place.

But that feels like first place to the band, according to their manager, fellow band member Cam’s dad Richard Rickerby, because the prize is supporting The Vamps at King’s Lynn’s Festival Too on Saturday July 2, when thousands are expected to be in the Tuesday Market Place.

Their music is more in keeping with The Vamps so it’s the perfect prize.

Other bandmates in Sacred Nations are Cam Rickerby, from Holbeach, and Ed King, from Whaplode Drove, and Frazer Stanford, from King’s Lynn.

Cam, the lead singer who also plays rhythm and acoustic guitar, said: “We play alternative rock, soft rock and pop rock.”

Music reviewer Jon Seymour described it as a bold move and said in his verdict on the final “it seems they’ve found that signature sound they’ve been searching for”.

Jon continued: “The lead guitar was more prominent, and layering jazz keyboard over rock songs actually works very well.”

All of the bandmates are aged 17.

Cam studies music at Stamford College and Dylan and Joe study there too.

Sacred Nations rose from the ashes of Holbeach-based acoustic folk/pop band Fazed. A second teenage band spawned by Faze is Among the Citizens, who were finalists in the Norfolk competition.

Richard Rickerby said Sacred Nations and Among the Citizens wouldn’t be where they are today without the help of Triston Finnis, of Twisted Melon Promotions.