As we reported The Detours recently won the UK wide Live and Unsigned competition so to find out a bit more about this Glasgow based band, whatsurmusic.com had a chat with Michael and Ross.

So to start with why not tell us a little about The Detours and how you got together?

We got together, Ross, Michael and Chris, about 6 years ago to do a variety show and then afterwards we just decided to keep it going as a band. In 2006 Ally and Danny joined us after a few line up changes and we have been gigging and writing ever since.

It’s been quite a long road then...

People do say that but it doesn’t really seem that long that we’ve been gigging about trying to get famous. It’s just been fun really.

For a while were you just playing as friends or were you always quite serious about trying to make it?

It’s always been quite serious. Even from the first time we got together to learn the cover songs we were very to the point. We wanted to do it professionally and we wanted to do it well and I think we knew we had a good working chemistry within the band. We were all in different bands before and it wasn’t really working out with everyone just messing about but when we were together it was more serious and we knew it was a good thing.

So obviously then let’s talk about Live and Unsigned which you just won. Congratulations!

Firstly tell us a bit about the competition.

It’s a nationwide competition run by a company called Future Music so that they can sign new acts under their management. They were looking for a rock band, a pop group and a solo artist. This year they started with 10,000 entrants and narrowed it down through stages until the final.

Basically you won out of 10,000 people?

Yeah!

Did you get the chance to play in some big venues?

Yeah our first show was in the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow and then we played on big stages down in England which we were good at because we like to have a big live show and run about like headless chickens really. So a big stage is always good for us and I think that is what impressed the judges.

Did you have a lot of experience on big stages before the competition?

Not too much but Danny likes to run about anyway no matter what size the stage is. If it’s too small he’ll just leave the stage. Michael as well will move as far as his guitar will still make sounds.

How did it feel when they announced you as winners?

It was brilliant! The best feeling ever! We had some great competition. We had scouted out all the bands and went to every Myspace and made a list of who our main rivals were. Then when we won it was just crazy. People were wanting autographs and taking pictures and then we were whisked away for a TV interview which was pretty cool.

Did you have a good feeling you were going to win?

I don’t think we went down thinking we were definitely going to win but we knew that it was possible. It was just a case of pulling it off on the day. We were all really hopeful but not cocky about it.

What does that mean for you now?

Well we are doing a demo down in Cardiff and hopefully that will come out next year and the record company will put some more money behind us. We also have a gig in the ABC, Glasgow, on the 13th August which will be our first gig since winning so it should be a really good night.

You are now also a nominee for the Vodafone Music Awards in the “Best Live and Unsigned” category. How does that feel?

Exciting. We get to go to Earls Court and hopefully walk down the Red Carpet.

Is there anyone you are looking forward to meeting there?

The Pussycat Dolls! There is five of them and five of us!

So what is next for The Detours?

Recoding and just promoting our music until the single comes out.

For more info on The Detours check out their myspace at www.myspace.com/thedetoursinfo

Interview by Nadia De Marco