HOMEGROWN indie band The Parades are set to headline tonight's BBC Introducing Xmas Party but will the three busy lads finally be winding down for the festive season after a 'solid' year? The band's lead singer Dan Bartlett speaks to The Reading Chronicle about their eventful year.

Although fairly new to the music scene following the success of the band's debut EP 'In the Moment' released earlier this year, The Parades churned out hits such as 'Weather' and 'Swim through the Waves' providing a soundtrack to the summer for music-lovers nationwide.

The band's 20-year-old lead singer Dan Bartlett, originally from Twyford, said the band came about after he and bassist Andy Burge, 21, from Wokingham, began writing music together while still at school.

He said: “We began writing more music as soon as we came out of school and then it was around the end of last year or the beginning of this year we got Callum on board and formed The Parades.”

But despite their growing fanbase, The Parades originally struggled to find their niche among the heavy metal bands that had long before established Reading as their territory.

He said: “For us the music scene in Reading was never really there until recently. There are loads of really good Reading bands coming out at the moment which is great but when we first started up we were playing lots of rock music because Reading is really big on rock and metal music.

“We actually had to branch out to different places and play a lot of gigs all over the place before we people would actually start to notice us.”

The band, which now features newly-recruited drummer, 21-year-old Callum Walton, from Wokingham, took inspiration from funk and soul bands such as Jamiroquai and Earth Wind and Fire to make their catchy tunes which resulted in the lads playing a series of shows across the country including the Isle of Wight Festival this year.

Dan said: “The best show we've played so far is a festival called Somersault in Dorset. We got brought on at 11pm and we really didn't know how it was going to turn out and how many people would come along but as soon as we got there and walked on stage the tent was absolutely packed out.

“It was amazing because the audience just got it. We also had an amazing time playing Surya in Kings Cross in July – it was amazing.”

But the boys insist that one of their favourite venues in the country is Reading's Purple Turtle which showcases the finest talent the borough has on offer.

“The Turtle is a great venue and really intimate as well. But we definitely want to come back to Reading and play more gigs in our home town.”

The band – headlining tonight's BBC Introducing Xmas Party at The Bowery District, Friar Street – have lots of plans lined up for the new year.

“We can't wait for the BBC Introducing Xmas Party. It's going to be great and we're all really excited to be able to play with the bands because most of them we've played with before and got to know everyone, so for us the party will be a really nice family-style event,” said Dan.

He added: “We're hoping 2015 will be an even better year than this year – we're doing a lot more writing, lots more gigs and releasing our second EP in the first few months of the new year. We'll hopefully be playing the festival circuit including our own headlining gig and probably put out some more music at the end of the year so we've got lots of plans lined up.”

But the band are looking forward to a well deserved rest during the festive season as they wind down and reflect on an eventful breakthrough year.

“Me and the guys will be spending Christmas with our families with all the cats, dogs, lizards and snakes – so it's going to be a warm and cosy Christmas day for us,” said Dan.

“But if I had to use one word to sum up 2014 I think 'solid' would definitely be it.”