2004 came to a triumphant close for The Loungs, with the band scooping two top gongs in the St Helens Musicians website awards.

The unstoppable super-group, who released their debut album from Kaleidoscope Records this year, won awards for Best St Helens Band and Best St Helens Website.

Other winners in the competition, voted for by members of the St Helens Musicians website, were Mark Wilson for Best St Helens Solo Artist; The VCs for Best Visiting Band; The Citadel for Best St Helens Live Venue; and Best St Helens CD went to The Last Hex Audio Assembly Programme 5.

St Helens Musicians website is owned and run by local musicians William Barnes and Thom Tyrer.

The site provides news and information on local bands, venues, recording studios and promoters, plus a forum where users can interact with like-minded artists and music fans.

There are also links to individual band sites and downloadable MP3 tracks.

On The Loungs double award win, William said, "An eventful year for St Helens' kings of Strongbow, as they rose from third-on-the-bill-at-The Raven territory, to become an (almost) globally recognised phenomenon, playing gigs as far a-field as Nottingham and establishing firm footholds in both Liverpool and Manchester.

"With their cider-addled charm, bizarre stage outfits and, above all, fantastic tunes, surely it's only a matter of time until the record companies pounce on them."

Mark Wilson also won the award for Best Guest Act in the Lancashire Music Collective annual awards ceremony, held at Ormskirk Civic Hall.

William commented, "St Helens' hardest working musician has solidified his reputation this year.

"Anyone who's seen Wilson playing live will agree that he is a formidable guitarist, but, unlike some 'virtuoso' performers, he never allows his songwriting to be buried beneath sheer technical ability."