A Skipton singer-songwriter is aiming high with his up and coming band, Lost Meridian.

Alex Johnston-Seymour, 16, and his fellow students from Leeds College of Music, have performed several times since forming in September.

Now they have entered the national Rock the House competition, which could see them performing for the music industry in front of the Houses of Parliament.

The blues rock band list their influences as Led Zeppelin, Free, Biffy Clyro, Wolfmother and Eric Clapton and have written enough of their own songs to fill an album.

Alex, the band’s lead vocalist, is studying piano and rock guitar; Jamie Furguson, 18, from Ilkley, is the band’s lead guitarist; Luke Hatfield, 16, from Leeds, is the drummer, and Rowan Wells, 16, from Pollington, plays the bass guitar.

In order to win through to the next round of the Rock the House competition, the band has to convince Skipton MP Julian Smith of their talent.

So far, the band has performed in Leeds and in Ilkley, and on Good Friday, April 18, will be playing in Skipton at The Venue.

They have also formed a band app consisting of photos, interviews, music on the internet, videos and fan posts.

Rock the House’s patron is Brian May, guitarist with Queen.

“It is a great honour to back Rock the House,” he said. “The UK is a hotbed of musical talent from all genres, and if the British music industry is going to grow and thrive then musicians need to be able to make a living from selling their product.

“This competition gives all musicians, from all backgrounds, the chance to get out there and make live music – one of the things Brits do best.”

In 2011, Jen Armstrong from Skipton won the solo title in the Rock the House competition and performed in the Houses of Parliament.

Prizes range from festival slots, studio time, equipment and the opportunity to have work premiered in London’s West End.

Lost Meridian will find out at the end of March whether they have been selected to move on to the next round of the contest.

Mr Smith said: “Every year these competitions get bigger and better and the opportunities from winning are huge.”

To find out more about Lost Meridian, visit Lostmeridianleeds on Facebook.