Alumni: The Castle Rock ‘n’ Roll Star!

Formed around 18 months ago, the talented five-strong indie band is made up of Charlie Devonport (drummer), Owen Trott (guitarist), Matt Cominotto (singer), Joe Syborn (guitarist) and, last but not least, Harry Walford (bass), a former pupil of Castle Rock School.

In 2018, after leaving Castle Rock, Harry attended Sheffield Hallam University. Originally planning to study Performance for Stage and Screen, Harry switched to Business and HR Management, securing a 2:1 degree classification.

However, just before he graduated, Harry came to the realisation that a career of spreadsheets and statistics was definitely not for him. Life seemingly had a different route mapped out.

Bandmate and schoolfriend Charlie, phoned him and asked if he still played bass guitar, remembering that Harry used to perform in local Coalville pubs when he was younger; he also used to perform songs in the dining-hall at Castle Rock.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Harry joined one of the biggest up-and-coming bands in the country and since then The Mercian’s have gone from strength-to-strength. Writing, recording and gigging on repeat.

They have released multiple singles including ‘Dreamseller,’ ‘Just Like You,’ ‘Little Shaw Lane’ and, most recently ‘I Don’t Mind,’ which has been played repeatedly on BBC Radio Nottingham. The song even reached number one on the iTunes alternative charts.

Earlier this year, they even supported fellow local Leicester lad Tom Meighan on his UK tour.

“The tour has been something that is hard to put into words,” Harry said, “something I've dreamt of doing and stages I've dreamt of playing since I played music in the dinner hall all those years ago.”

From playing to minimal numbers in that Castle Rock dinner hall, to sold out UK arenas; it’s been quite a ride for Harry and The Mercians, and it sounds like the best is yet to come, with plans to headline their own UK tour later this year!

Follow the link to listen to some of their music - https://www.youtube.com/@themercians/videos