Winning a national competition to play in front of label representatives and industry executives at the Houses of Parliament is music to the ears of a local rock band.

After honing their performance skills at gigs around London and St Albans, four-piece Concrete Caverns blitzed the finals of the over 19 band category of ‘Rock The House’, one of Parliament’s largest competitions, on Monday June 13.

The musicians said they were “delighted and honoured to have won this prestigious contest as there were over 400 entrants”.

Liam Banga, the band’s bass player, is from St Albans and a former pupil of Verulam School.

The 20 year old, who is currently studying for a BA in popular music at the University of Middlesex, said: “Everyone at the final was friendly, and we had some people watching us from St Albans, including organisers of the M Festival [being held at Marlborough Science Academy, July 9].

“It was a really good performance, and we felt really comfortable; we gave it our all and were energetic. But we were blown away by the other bands playing.”

Liam said that he and fellow band members were ‘overwhelmed’ at first, when told of their win.

Concrete Caverns are now preparing for a follow-up performance on July 4, when they play for movers and shakers in the music industry, on the terrace, overlooking the Thames.