MUSIC lovers have been asked to back a Prestonpans band who are bidding to release their debut album.

The Rah’s were planning to release When Does It Become Real? earlier this year but saw their musical ambitions put on hold by coronavirus.

Now, the five-piece band, who went to Preston Lodge High School, have launched a kickstarter campaign, calling on fans to make a donation in exchange for rewards including a live performance in a fan’s living room!

Jack McLeod, lead singer and rhythm guitarist, told the Courier how it had been a strange year for everyone.

He said: “We were going to go with the release of the album and release of the singles as it progressed. That was due to kick off in April or May with the album release.

“There was also going to be a tour, beginning in Newcastle, then Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

“We were due to do that in April to tie in with the album release but it was postponed until July but again that has now been moved back.”

Now, the band, which started out playing Oasis and Arctic Monkeys covers in The Dasher and Prestonpans Labour Club, are looking to their fanbase to support their album release.

Jack said: “We are in no way begging for your money, pulling your heartstrings or sitting feeling sorry for ourselves; instead, we are getting this album over the line.

“In March 2021, we will be releasing When Does It Become Real? and we are offering people products via this Kickstarter project to simply gather the funds needed to get this album over the line.

“With zero income as a band since February, we really are limited in our options. Instead of setting up a GoFundMe page and pleading poverty, we are selling our product and merchandise in a pre-order form.”

Already, more than £2,700 of the £5,000 target has been raised. And, depending on the amount donated, people can receive various rewards. A payment of £8 gets a digital download of the full 12-track album, while £15 receives a t-shirt along with the album.

A pledge of £55 or more will receive a signed 12-inch vinyl and merchandise bundle, including album, t-shirt, tote bag, badges, bottle opener, lighter and stickers, while a donation of £400 gets the buyer a live performance in their home, anywhere in the UK.

Jack, along with bandmates Neale Gray (drums), Jordan McIntyre (guitar), Lee Brown (bass) and Jack Miller (keyboards and acoustic guitar), have also found rehearsals halted by the pandemic.

Jack, who works as an electrician, said: “We practise twice a week and not even seeing the boys twice a week has been proper hard.”

For more information, go to www.kickstarter.com/projects/therahs/the-rahs-debut-album-when-does-it-become-real