AN award-winning band says the music scene in Tyldesley is “absolutely bouncing”.

Four-piece group Young Once, who perform a range of cover songs mixed in with their own tracks, starred in the Wigan Live Festival last month along with more than 60 other music bands and artists.

After entertaining the audience, the Tyldesley-based act were judged to be the best band that performed at the weekend event.

Pete "Hoddy" Hodkinson, who plays guitar and harmonies, said: “We were gobsmacked to win the award as we didn’t even know there was one for the festival. We decided to perform in it because we have never played in the centre of Wigan and it was in support of Macmillan nurses.”

As well as “Hoddy”, bass player Garth Davies, who used to be in the Buzzcocks, singer and lead guitarist Tony Wragg and drummer Steve Hewitson played together in the festival.

Simon Bentall is the group's regular drummer.

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Hoddy provides a folk influence to the music, Garth introduces elements of punk to the tracks and Tony ensures there is a “funky” aspect to their music. They also like to inject a “sprinkle of comedy” to their act on stage.

Young Once regularly play at various venues in Tyldesley and the band say there is plenty of musical talent in the town.

Pete added: “There are so many fantastic bands doing live music in Tyldesley at the moment. The town is absolutely bouncing.”

The band, which support lots of causes at gigs, boast they have never played anywhere where they haven’t been rebooked.