A MUSIC act who narrowly missed out on winning a national talent contest have their sights set on the future after a series of festival appearances.

Sean Barber from Ruislip, and Mark Collins, are an acoustic duo known as Two Little Boys, who progressed to the final of Live and Unsigned, an annual competition showcasing the best undiscovered talent and offering the prize of tour dates as well as cash.

Held at Proud2 in The O2 arena on July 14, the boys impressed a panel of music industry executives and A&Rs with their song In The Morning, which was mixed with Human League’s classic Don’t You Want Me Baby.

They were pipped by Coco and the Butterfields, a band from Canterbury, but Sean, 30, said the competition has opened doors for them already, with a raft of gig bookings and other opportunities coming off the back of their participation.

“We have been very busy, and have made some good contacts along the way. There have been meetings with managers, and we have a few other things in the pipeline, so watch this space.

“It’s still early and I can’t talk too much about it at this stage but things are looking up, and it’s all thanks to Live and Unsigned.”

In June, they played at Paddington LI.VE jubilee music weekend in Little Venice, followed by Beach Break Live in South Wales. They were also invited to perform at the Peace and Love Festival in Sweden in June, which featured R’n’B superstar Rihanna, Bloc Party, and Billy Idol.

“That festival was just out of this world. We got to meet all the bands in the artist area. It was unreal,” Sean said.

The boys are recording their first EP, and will be on the main stage at the Relentless Boardmasters Festival, where Ed Sheeran and Dizzee Rascal are the headline acts, in Newquay, Cornwall on August 10, after winning a Live and Unsigned award for gaining exposure.

August 18 will be something of a homecoming, with a gig at the Tropic at Ruislip.

Two Little Boys formed a year and a half ago, after Sean and Mark met on the live music circuit as soloists, and have since gained a growing fan base.

More than 150 people wearing Two Little Boys T-shirts were cheering them on at the O2 final, for which Sean expressed his gratitude.

“We are so appreciative of the support we have been getting. We are always asking our friends to come to this gig, or click on this link, or text your vote to this number, and they’ve been there the whole way.”

? Listen to Two Little Boys’ music via www.myspace.com/songsfromthesummerhouse.

Follow them on Twitter: @Two_Little_Boys.