WHEN they formed just a year ago, Kiama band The Vanns could never have imagined they would achieve the success they have.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the past year, singer and guitarist James Vann, keyboard player Robert Corber, bass player Adam Bernich and drummer Lachlan Jones won the right to play at last December's Homebake festival and were invited to audition for Australia's Got Talent.
Their ability to manage the indie pop/rock band independently gained attention from independent label Inertia and on June 2, the four fronted the Vivid Ideas Access All Areas panel of experts in Sydney to talk about the strategies they have used and a business plan was prepared for them.
Inertia will also release the band's self-titled EP as part of the prize.
"Inertia do iTunes and link it in with YouTube and Spotify, so it'll help it get out there quicker," Jones said.
Vann said the band hadn't expected to reach this level, just 12 months after forming.
"We thought we'd be just another Wollongong band playing a gig a week," he said.
The band said its strategy included approaching venues and higher-profile bands for gigs. "We hassle a lot of people, we ask a lot of venues to play," Corber said.
Playing at Homebake also created new opportunities - the band met African-inspired indie rock outfit Jinga Safari during the festival, which has led to extra shows in Sydney.
The Vanns will play at Yours & Owls in Wollongong on June 14 and 16 to release their EP.