SCHOOL isn't out yet for Ten Zero One but already the young rockers are proving a class act.

The quartet are through to their second national battle of the bands final – although they are too young to drive themselves to the gig.

That's pretty good going for a Devon band not old enough to play in pubs and clubs. Their oldest member is still three years from a driving licence.

The boys have made the final of the Schooljam Battle of the Bands – the biggest such contest of its kind, which is open to school and college bands up to age 21.

They have been invited to perform live for a panel of judges at The Garage, Islington, in London next Thursday.

Only seven other bands from across the UK have been selected to take part. The winners will get an all-expenses trip to play Europe's biggest international music show, Musicmesse in Frankfurt, Germany, plus an amazing backline of gear for their school or college.

"We saw the competition advertised in Bass Guitar magazine," says lead singer/bass player Max Williams, "and all you had to do was to submit a YouTube clip of your band playing live, which we did. We didn't think we had much chance at all, as the contest is open to students at music college up to the age of 21."

Last summer Ten Zero made the UK final of Live And Unsigned, against adult competition. They performed to a huge crowd in the O2 in London, watched by a panel of judges including some of the most influential music industry bosses.

That experience built their confidence and tightened their act.

"Most of all, we've learned not to stand like trees!" says Max. "Now we know to give it a bit of a show, we talk about it at band practices, but actually, it's starting to come more naturally anyway."

The lads – who are inspired by heavy rock in general and the Foo Fighters in particular, describing their output as 'modern rock' – got together at Tavistock College at an after hours-rock school. Their sound has been described as 'a fresh take on 70s rock'.

As well as Max, they are Charlie Smith and Gary Lawrence who are all 14, plus Jack Rawling who is still 13.

They are excited at the prospect of playing in front of another London crowd in an attempt to impress a judging panel of national press and reps from the world's leading music equipment manufacturers. Plus there's the boost a second national final will give their CV.

"We are still too young to play pubs and clubs, so we have to rely on playing festivals to get gigs," says Max. "It's so difficult to secure festivals slots as so many bands want to play, but reaching the Live and Unsigned finals worked wonders for us getting into local festivals last year, so we're hoping that we'll be able to do even more this year."

Ivylive, Crapfest, Calstock Biker Festival were just a few and they recently performed in the Mediterranean biome at the Eden Project.

The lads are putting finishing touches to their 11-track live album, the title of which pretty much sums up their current mood.

"We're calling it after a track we came up with having played the Looe music festival – we had such a cool time there and such a great response.

"It's going to be called Walking On Water."