Band hope to break USA with Super Bowl success

Gathering of Strangers' lead vocalist Conor Rabone (centre) hopes the Super Bowl exposure could lead to the band finding a record label

An unsigned British indie band - whose song was adopted by Super Bowl finalists San Francisco 49ers - hope the track's popularity could help them get signed by a record label.

Gathering of Strangers' lead singer Conor Rabone, who works as a funeral director in Redditch, Worcestershire, by day, said it was "everything we could hope for".

The song, Red & Gold, by the band, who first met in Manchester in 2018, has been regularly played during home games at Levi's Stadium.

It has also been discussed as possible entrance music for the 49ers ahead of Sunday's grudge match against Kansas City Chiefs.

Discussing the exposure the Super Bowl could provide for the band, Mr Rabone said: "We now have reason to go to these record labels because we have a bit of a story behind us.

"It is so hard for bands these days because there is so much competition to make people listen to them.

"I think we have a good chance of getting in people's good books and hopefully of getting signed."

Mr Rabone said it would mean "everything" if he could dedicate his life to music and become a professional musician.

The band, made up of Mr Rabone, Bruce Higgs, Tom Wingate, Peter Crampsey and Andre Ilkiw have been together since 2018.

The members met at at BIMM Music Institute in Manchester.

The lead singer added: "We are so committed to this and we have such a high love for it - being signed is all we want.

"To have a thought that that could be on the horizon is just going to push us even further."

Mr Rabone also confirmed there had been talks between the 49ers and Gathering of Strangers to get the band over for the global spectacle.

He said there would be performances before, during and after the game but it was still a matter of "sorting the logistics".

Super Bowl LVIII kicks off in Las Vegas at 23.30 GMT on Sunday.