A Richmond band are celebrating being crowned the winners of the Hard Rock Rising London 2013 competition.

Rock five-piece The Carnabys found themselves on the receiving end of rave reviews from the judging panel as they triumphed.

One of the judges James Curran, head of music at Absolute Radio, commented that he “could play them on the radio tomorrow”.

The rockers’ success comes after a thriving 2012 where they performed at the Taubertal Festival in Germany, supported Corrine Bailey Rae in September and enjoyed airplay in Arizona.

And this January The Carnabys, who are being compared to the Kings of Leon, sold out the prestigious Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush to promote the release of their debut EP.

It is undoubtedly an exciting time for the young band, so much so that Roxy Music journalist Phil Manzanera said: “I have seen the future and the future is The Carnabys.”

To listen to the boys being described as “the best band to come out of west London since The Who”, visit thecarnabys.com.