RISING stars The K's - from Earlestown - are in the running for a number one after releasing their debut album - but face competition from musical heavyweights.
As reported last week, the K's 'I Wonder If The World Knows?' was released on Friday, April 5.
The band launched a one-week pop-up shop in St Helens town centre debut last week as they looked to promote their music.
And the publicity drive - which has also led to the Earlestown rockers having a large mural created on the exterior wall of the Citadel - is helping to build momentum for the quartet, who are regarded by many as one the most exciting young bands in the country.
The K's album was the second album in the UK's midweek official Top 100, placed behind The Libertines' All Quiet on the Eastern Espanlade, with Beyonce's Cowboy Carter also in the running after taking last week's top spot.
The band - Jamie Boyle (lead singer) Dexter Baker (bass guitar), Ryan Breslin (lead guitar) and Nathan Peers (drummer) - have been dividing time between meeting fans in their pop-up shop (in Church Square Shopping Centre, next to Pandora) and heading to various towns and cities around the country.
Jamie told the Star: "The support has been amazing - we are so grateful to our fans - we are only in this position because of their support.
"We are a band from Earlestown battling against the Libertines and Beyonce - one of the biggest artists in the world - and we are going to take it right to the wire.
"To our fans we love you - and we couldn't ask any more of you."
Their high energy, all guns blazing approach is fuelling a growing band of fans, many of whom have headed to St Helens to collect sign copies and meet the band in person.
Among those, were Jordan Williams-Lawson, 25, and Jodie Ashford, 26, who travelled up from Devon to meet the lads.
Asked what they loved about the K's, Jordan said: "When we saw them live we were just blown away - they were so exciting and had such energy on stage."
It certainly is all-action for the group at present, with a concert at Manchester's Victoria Warehouse and dates to play at festivals in the UK and Europe in the diary.
Jamie says they are aware that they are flying the flag for Earslestown and the borough - and are proud to making waves for their fans across Newton-le-Willows, St Helens and Warrington, who have been following their progress for several years.
They are also staying level-headed and determined to keep grafting, evidenced by their efforts painting the walls of the pop-up shop and helping to put up a chalkboard, where fans have been posting messages.
Jamie added: "The music is the diary of our lives over the past few years - all the lyrics are based on real life experiences for me.
"There's a lot in there about growing up in the the local area and our experiences of that.
"We will be making appearances in the pop-up shop through the week (until Thursday - check their social media feed for times) and have some big dates ahead of us.
"You have got to work hard, believe in yourself and have confidence."
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