City College Norwich students set for big London 2012 performance

Four Norfolk and Suffolk students are gearing up for the biggest performance of their young careers next week – after securing a chance to perform in London's Hyde Park to help celebrate the Olympics.

Alex Tweedy, of Aylsham, Ben Male, from Dereham, Matt Harlow, from Long Stratton, Diss and Callum Read, of Lowestoft, are in the band Rampant Horse.

The City College Norwich students will be playing at the BT London Live festival in Hyde Park on Tuesday, which has been organised to help celebrate the Olympics.

They will be playing two 30-minute sets on the festival's bandstand, which is playing host to unsigned bands.

Rampant Horse – who describe themselves as a rock band – were formed in December and have played gigs in Lowestoft, Norwich and Great Yarmouth as well as the Tasburgh Community Festival.

However, the band are guaranteed their biggest ever audience, and the chance of attracting a set of new followers, as Hyde Park will be packed with people viewing Olympic events on giant screens, taking part in sports and children's activities and watching acts on the main stage, including soul singer Kenny Thomas.

Callum, who is studying a BTEC in music, said: 'This will be the biggest gig we have done yet.'

The band was named after Rampant Horse Street in Norwich city centre.

They were put forward for BT London Live festival, which runs in Hyde Park until August 11, by their tutor Dom Shillito, who nominated them without telling them as he was impressed by their ability and attitude.