I Call Shotgun, who are as yet unsigned, scooped top place in a battle of the bands contest after beating off hundreds to take to the stage at the massively popular Snowbombing Festival.

They had jetted to the ski resort of Mayrhofen in Austria for the festival where there's boarding by day and music by night.

The Pigeon Detectives and Calvin Harris were among live performers at the week-long event where I Call Shotgun took centre stage for a play-off against five other bands.

They were all vying for the title of King of the Mountain which gives up and coming bands the chance to play against each other - and win 2,000 euros.

Guitarist Iain Bolton, 22, of Headingley told the YEP: "There was over a hundred watching us which is the biggest crowd we've ever played to. We are an unsigned band and the crowd really got into it. I was absolutely buzzing."

The winner was chosen by a panel of judges and text voting.

"They announced it and said our name and we wouldn't believe it. All the bands we played against were of a really high standard and one had recently been signed. Some had supported Muse and Red Hot Chilli Peppers then there was us who had only formed in September. Three of us go to Leeds College of Music and our lead singer goes to Leeds University."

The band had been whittled down from hundreds of entrees across the UK all vying for a place at the Austrian festival.

They were voted in by public vote befroe making it into the last six who were jetted over for the festival.

This isn't the first win for the band who seem to be well on their way
to success.

They were also one of the 15 lucky winners of the Bright Young Things Competition 2008.

Organised by the council's Arts and Regeneration Unit and supported by The PRS Foundation for New Music, the scheme was set up to springboard new talent in Leeds onto the road to success.

I Call Shotgun includes singer Joe De Luca, 20, of Woodhouse, who is studying a degree in human resource management.

Josh Weller, 20, of Headingley, plays the keyboards and is studying a popular music degree at Leeds College of Music along with drummer Sam Holdstock, 22, of Headingley.