Blues rockers Horseman Shakes & The Draymen are through to the national final of Live and Unsigned 2009 after impressing the judges at Bedford Corn Exchange on Sunday.

The five-piece Sandy rock outfit, regulars on the local music scene, won through with the last performance of the day, a cover of Ram Jam's Black Betty and their own song Listen Kitten.

Dom Notarangelo, who plays rhythm guitar, said: "We're through to the final but I don't know how. There were a couple of great bands there, someone was looking down on us.

"We formed about 18 months ago and were not going to go in for competitions, but got into this in January and here we are, and we're set on winning the competition."

They will be joined in the final by James Junior from Pulloxhill, who wowed the expert panel at the area final with a cover version of George Benson's On Broadway and his own song Free.

Bedford-based band Brigante were also among the top acts of the day, but narrowly missed out on a place in the national final.

Also through to the national final from the Bedford area final are acoustic guitarist Scott Dean, Kettering rock outfit Felt Tip Thieves, Swansea metal group The Buffalo Kings, Birmingham's Drunk Lovers, Sinners and Saints and Cheltenham inde band The Envy.

All will now perform at the Live and Unsigned national final in Portsmouth on Saturday, June 27, when they will have to impress judges like former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale.