One Man Down

They write their own songs, have a growing city fan base and are currently soaring through a national music contest.

There may only be three of them, but One Man Down are up when it comes to the talent stakes.

And their songs have not only made it on to the city's airwaves but are making even bigger waves across the pond after impressing record bosses in America.

The group, from the Exmouth area, have made it through the first round of Live and Unsigned — the country's biggest music competition for up-and-coming bands.


And Perry Meadowcroft, 18, Stuart Douglas, 25, and Tom Smith, 19, hope to emulate their success so far at the next stage of the contest in March.

The band only got together 12 months ago but have already made a name for themselves on the city's music scene.

And they have released their first EP, called Histronix.

Their promotor, Iain Douglas, has high hopes for the group.

The 57-year-old told the Echo: "The lads are extremely talented — they are three musicians who play instruments and write their own songs.

"They are a local band who are making good and they have a huge number of fans already.

"I sent a demo album of their music to New York and they said the group sounded fabulous and that they were very interested."

But Iain says it is important the boys keep their feet on the ground and work hard at building a local fan base first.

"I haven't approached any record labels in the UK yet because the band need to work at getting noticed first," he said. "They have got to get out there and get known and build up their fan base.

"When you get people ringing up and saying 'I've heard you, we would like to book you', that is the time you consider sending stuff off to record companies.

"This is why I have put them into Live and Unsigned — unless you have the ambition to do it, then you are wasting everybody's time. But they love playing and can do a three-hour set including their own songs and some phenomenal covers."

The group will perform again in front of the Live and Unsigned judges in Cheltenham on Saturday, March 27.

If they make it through the next round, they will go on to play on stage in London.

Iain added: "To get as far as they have in the competition is quite an accolade — it is a huge competition."

One Man Down are performing a charity set at Seamus O'Donnell's in St David's, Exeter, tonight, with donations going to Exeter Leukaemia Fund.

For more information on the band, visit www.onemandown.co.uk.

- Express And Echo (Exeter)

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