Meet The Whiskey Syndicate

catches up with the region's best unsigned acts and meets the musical stars of tomorrow - this week it's The Whiskey Syndicate from Wolverhampton.

They've toured the USA, played in Las Vegas and blagged a VIP table at American model/actress Carmen Electra's birthday party. Now The Whiskey Syndicate is ready to rock out in their home town of Wolverhampton with a gig at the Slade rooms on January 21.

The four-piece group says it is a stripped down, no nonsense rock 'n' roll band with a raw power that they love to unleash on audiences in venues across the globe.

The band has been together since 2003 and its current members are lead guitarist and vocalist Anthony Wright, aged 28, guitarist Mike Davie, 28, drummer Stu Adams, 24, and bassist Richard Corry, 37.

The Whiskey Syndicate's roots originate from the summer of 2003 where there was "a lot of jamming and whiskey drinking".

Six years later, in 2009, the musicians decided it was time to cross the pond and so embarked on a self-funded tour of the USA.

They played at venues in Vegas, Nevada, Phoenix, Arizona and a six-night run on the famous Sunset Strip in LA ending with a packed out show at the legendary Viper Room.

The trip created a lot of memories and Wright said: "We once blagged our way in to American model/actress Carmen Electra's birthday party and ended up with a VIP table."

The band cite their influences and inspirations as Guns N Roses, Motley Crue, AC/DC and Led Zeppelin.

"There are such a vast range of influences across the four members and each member is influenced by a range of artists," Wright said.

The band, which has sold out at the Little Civic no less than nine times believes they stand out from others groups out there.

Wright said: "Our music is old school bar room rock 'n' roll, hard rock with influences taken from blues all the way to metal.

"Our sound is very much rooted in the music that has put the Black Country region on the map over the past four decades.

"Our music has got a raw power to it that gives it a certain groove. I think the influences help as with can have something quite heavy or bluesy but it still retains the classic British rock feel."

Band members are now putting its finishing touches to their debut full-length album which is scheduled for release this spring.

Wright said: "Hopefully this will be followed by a full UK tour and a handful of festival appearances and support gigs with well known bands. We are hoping to tour overseas again very soon too."

Their Facebook page is www.facebook.com/thewhiskeysyndicate, and if you want to catch them performing head on Down to The Slade Rooms on January 21 from 7pm.

Over in Oswestry the indie rock band The Madoc Vanguard has created a new EP ready to download from Amazon.co.uk

The group has been going since 2008 and they say its sound is a mix of driving rhythms and energetic riffs, comparable to the pop rock of The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs, with the spirit and edge of Bloc Party.

To download it, visit Amazon.co.uk or the group's own website, http://themadocvanguard.co.uk/