Competition takes student band from pub gigs to JLS opener

Daniel Coulter and his band 4amclub have been around the pub gig scene for the last three years, playing shows to mostly modest crowds.

Still searching for a big break, the students entered a music competition after it was mentioned by a lecturer after class, sent a few songs across and thought nothing more of it.

They had no idea what to expect, later arriving to a basic set up of some amps, no real sound equipment, 'and some guy named Carl'.

However, the judge was impressed and the band landed the biggest gig in their short career, opening for UK pop giants JLS.

Ahead of the indie-rock group's show in Ebrington Square in Londonderry on Saturday, nerves were building and they admitted the stakes were high.

Despite singer Luke Bell's excitement, he said there was also "a sensation of 'right boys we need to buck it up a bit and get it tighter'".

Studying a masters in music, Daniel was approached after class one day by his lecturer.

"He didn't say it was for JLS but he mentioned a few bands, we actually thought we were auditioning for James Arthur."

The guys were up against fellow students and bands, before learning they'd made it to the finals against a solo female singer.

Still thinking James Arthur was the main act, they prepared more "timid love songs" to match the singer's own music catalogue.

Daniel said they were in for a surprise however: "We got there on the day, and they said 'yeah, so this is actually for JLS, play the high energy ones' and we were like 'wait what?'"

Despite the last minute shake up, 4amclub were able to come out on top, and landed themselves the coveted opening slot.

For bassist Páidí Muldoon, the experience has been surreal.

"Every so often I remember that it's happening and I'm like 'oh, that's actually JLS, they're actually a massive band, there's going to be a load of people there'," he said before Saturday night's show.

"I get this freaking scared-ness to the core, and it's class where I let it turn into big energy, you know?"

He said in the past month, the group have become much more organised when it comes to making sure their sound is on top.

"It has naturally forced us to become a tighter group and just a better band," he added.

The Belfast-based group is made up of Luke Bell (singer and rhythm), Paídí Muldoon (bass), Michael Hawkins (drums) and Daniel Coulter (lead guitar).

Most of the members did not know each other beforehand however, except for Luke and Páidí who both grew up in County Tyrone and attended schools in Omagh.

They came together spontaneously after the Covid-19 lockdown, and said they've had a blast playing live music venues across Northern Ireland.

Even having enjoyed the biggest moment in their career, they're already planning what's next.

"We'd absolutely love to cut an album, we have a lot of stuff written that hasn't released yet but that would be so cool someday," said Luke.

When asked who they'd like to support next, Daniel said it had to be Catfish and the Bottlemen.

"I think we're kind of similar to them, people have said before we sound a wee bit like them."

Luke also threw Paolo Nutini in the mix: "Anywhere sort of local, like any big local thing would be my dream venue as well.

"There's just something special about playing at home."