London calling for rockers

London calling for rockers

29 August 2018

ROCK chicks Orlaith & Mollie are preparing to take on the best of London’s busking talent this Saturday.

The former Assumption Grammar School girls have made it through to the final of a major national music competition.

The Co Down musicians are the only act from Ireland — north or south — to make the final call for Gigs, the Mayor of London’s annual busking platform.

Better known as Orlaith Forsythe, from Dundrum, and Mollie McGinn, from Carryduff, the 18 year-olds are becoming popular on the live music circuit.

They will be performing in two categories on Saturday, one for musicians performing original  material with their own song Heart as well as in  the duo section.

Orlaith & Mollie have only played together for over a year but have already gigged at major festivals like Sunflowerfest in Hillsborough and have supported Freddie Mercury tribute act Flash Harry.

They are known for their 1980s glam rock style playing standard rock covers from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin with pop vocals.

The pair released an EP Chains last summer with five original tracks and have been performing in between studying for A-Levels.

While they have opted not to go on to university as they want to pursue their music career, Orlaith and Mollie proved they are a hit when it comes to academic achievement.

Mollie gained an A* and two A grades in her A Levels recently while Orlaith got two As ad a B.

The girls beat off the competition from 120 other acts to get to the final which will be held at the Westfield Centre.

They had to play across five separate London venues in front of a panel of music industry experts earlier in August.

Orlaith said: “We played at places such as Waterloo Station, Trafalgar Square and London Bridge recently and also played outside Wembley Stadium, so we at least can claim we played Wembley.

“Our last gig was at the Westfield Centre, which is Europe’s largest shopping centre and the judges visited each one of our gigs.”

Mollie said that they were delighted to have got through to the final on their first entry.

“I think it’s great that the Mayor hosts this competition as it’s hard for people like us who are new to the industry finding venues to play. We were lucky as we found out by the competition totally by accident when were were researching where in London we could busk.”

They plan to busk in the city before and after the competition and will be supported by their families on the day.

Gigs is a major entertainment competition that is recognised as platform for introducing new talent and has the endorsement and support of major music performers and producers.

Chic songwriter and producer Nile Rodgers launched the competition and Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler is also supporting the Gibson Guitars-sponsored competition. 

There’s £15,000 worth of prizes to be won, as well as new guitars and travel to Paris or Amsterdam courtesy of Eurostar.