Enniskillen’s rocktastic El Capitan have made it through to the TV stages of Irish talent show Deis Roc.

The Fermanagh group have beaten over 200 participants from Northern and Southern Ireland in bagging a place in the final sixteen and now stand to win 10,000 euro plus a slot at a major festival.

Last Saturday, the TG4 camera crew dropped into a very cold Enniskillen to capture the band in and around the town for the show. The footage will also include a rather great acoustic set from the band and a blink-and-you-really-will-miss-it cameo by yours truly.

El Capitan comprises of local lads Sean McGoldrick, Mark Phair, David Jordon and an understandably thrilled Ronan McGrade; “To be part of a national show is great exposure for the band and our music. Everyone is pretty excited about it and looking forward to seeing how things pan out. If people keep voting for us then hopefully we’ll get through to the semi-finals, ultimately the viewers decide who stays and who goes. I run the risk of sounding like a hypocrite but shows like X Factor or Pop Idol are dire. I think Deis Roc is different because it takes on a different format than the other reality talent shows. It’s about bands; it’s about original music, with no manufactured feel and plenty of creditability. I think we should win because we’re the best band in the competition, we’ve the best music and the most talented singer. It would be a crying shame if we didn’t win.”

El Capitan’s philosophy is “writing good music and entertaining large audiences” and Deis Roc is the perfect platform for the band to practice what they preach. With countless gigging up and down the country, their music selling bucket loads and celebrity fans such as Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamaq and Radio Ulster’s David O’Reilly, they’re well on their way but they’ll need your support.

So, if you haven’t heard the brilliance of El Capitain yet, then get to it. I bought their album ‘Chances Afloat’ on iTunes for a few quid the other day and haven’t stopped listening to it since. It’s a glorious manifestation of unmistakeable talent. Full of standout lyrics and catchy, killer choruses – it delivers on every listen. It’s no wonder they’re on track to win the show. And if they do win, I believe they will be donating all of the prize money to my “Villa in the Sun” fund. Well, I live in hope.

El Capitan won’t appear on screen until next month, but that doesn’t stop you getting hooked to Deis Roc right now. Tune into TG4 every Tuesday night at 11PM, repeated Thursday evenings at 6PM. To find out more about El Capitan on Deis Roc, visit http://www.myspace.com/elcapitanuk