April 2017: Band in final of two music competitions

A STUDENT band is a finalist in two prestigious competitions and has already lined up a gig.

Thursday’s Child is made up of 15-year-old Year 10 students from Haslingden High School Lewis Fielding, India Flavell, Kayleigh Mableson and Joe Charles.

Head of Expressive Arts at the Broadway school Kevin Gibbs suggested they become a quartet after hearing India and Kayleigh singing harmonies at Christmas.

Joe has been a drummer for a long time and plays the cajon in the group; a box shaped percussion instrument, while Lewis plays guitar. Kayleigh is a vocalist while India provides the harmonies and also plays percussion.
A recording of the group singing and playing an acoustic cover of Amy Winehouse’s Valerie has already had nearly 900 views on YouTube. When the group entered Sing Bolton Sing, a competition in partnership with Bolton FM and the Bolton News, and in the Student Union Bar heat they sailed through to the final in May.

At Rochdale Festival of Performing Arts the group entered the rock and pop category and their performance earned them a mark of 91 per cent, way ahead of the nearest group and again a place in the final in May. Joe said: “Mr Gibbs came up with the idea of putting us together and it seems to have worked.”
Other songs on their play list include Sweet Child of Mine, Jolene and Oops I Did it Again.

They have already been booked to play at The Woolpack in Haslingden on Friday April 7 and at Edenfield Fete in June.

Thursday’s Child will also be playing at the Blackburn and Bolton Teenage Markets.

India said: “My older sister Lydia came up with the name because Thursday’s Child has far to go. She is studying broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University.”

Kayleigh said: “I wouldn’t go on a TV talent show like Britain’s Got Talent because it is fixed.”

India added: “We don’t want to be judged, we want to have fun so going on a show like that would not be any good.”

To watch the group follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-VIHykfDCQ