Belfast Band The Left Backs – Ben Watt-Doak (front), and (from left) Matt Hedley, Max Lozowsky and Lucas MacPherson – with their award.

It’s no wonder that Northern Irish indie band The Left Backs are jumping for joy.

The teenage four-piece have just been named Best Band at this year’s Irish Youth Music Awards.

They beat stiff competition from 15 other music acts from Louth, Tipperary, Dublin and Newry to claim the top prize in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

The Left Backs comprise drummer Matt Hedley from Grosvenor Grammar School, lead guitarist Max Lozowsky and rhythm guitarist/lead singer Ben Watt-Doak from Methodist College, and bass player Lucas McPherson from Lagan College.

The Belfast quartet, all aged 17, started off covering hits by their favourite bands – such as The Arctic Monkeys, The Fratellis and Derry’s own The Undertones.

The emotional energy behind their first EP – Listen To This Before It’s Cool – led to a panel of six music industry experts awarding them the prize for Best Band and Best Song.

Matt Hedley explained: “We were the only indie band there so we were up against acoustic, heavy metal and rock acts.

“We actually won the award for both Best Band and Best Song – but as one band can’t win, we had to forfeit that to the second place band.”

The teenagers are planning to study Music Technology at Queen’s University.