A BAND of budding Redditch rock stars have set off on their first European tour.

Hey Pablo! jetted off to the French Alps to put in a performance at an international snowboarding competition last week.

The group - Toby Ford, Mark Laydon, Justin Januszewski and Stuart White - have already made themselves a name as rising stars, playing a mixture of hiphop, funk, disco and rock.

Toby said they would travel to the competition at the Alpes d'Huez and then would play gigs in Paris.

They are also hoping to organise a concert in Redditch's twin town, Auxerre.

"We have played around the country but these are our first European gigs so it should be quite interesting," said Toby.

"We're also trying to drum up a bit of support ready for our appearance in the second round of the Battle of the Bands at Cox's Yard in Stratford in April."

Hey Pablo! is also recording a new EP in April at Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton, where Warwickshire musicians Nizlopi recorded the recent JCB song.

For more details about the band, visit www.heypablo.com