Peterborough club that helped launch Eurovision entrant's career

The UK's Eurovision Song Contest entrant Look Mum No Computer will grace the big stage in Vienna this weekend, but his career has far more humble beginnings at a small gig venue in Peterborough. Sam Battle, who grew up in nearby Yaxley, performed across Cambridgeshire as a solo act and as part of bands Yellow Snow and Zibra in his early days, putting him on the radar of BBC Introducing. Among the venues he played was The Met Lounge in Peterborough. Steve Jason, its owner, said venues like his were "so important" for upcoming artists as "they have a place to test their material". "I didn't envision him playing Eurovision but fair play, and fingers crossed he brings home the trophy," he said. Battle is competing against 24 other countries in the 70th edition of the contest in Austria on Saturday, with his electro-pop anthem Eins, Zwei, Drei. He attracted attention for the unusual electronic instruments he creates, including organs using Furby toys and old Game Boys. Jason said the artist had "made progression" after seeing him perform at his venue in the late 2000s and early 2010s. "The band Yellow Snow was one of the early pop punk bands coming through in the city," he said. "I do r