A NEWTON Abbot-based business that introduces the wonders of rock and roll to babies has made the regional finals of this year’s Muddy Stiletto Awards.

Rhys Davies’ business ‘Baby Rockers’ is among the final five in the ‘Best Children’s Business’ category.

This is despite the music teacher and Bootleggers Turn frontman having only started the business six months ago.

‘I started it in October and at the moment I am only doing it on Saturday mornings’ Rhys said.

‘But the sessions are consistently selling out each week.

‘The plan is to be doing it more full time, taking it across Devon’ Rhys added.

Rhys, who has been a teacher for more than twenty years, said that since being nominated everything had been ‘a bit of a whirlwind’.

From Seale Hayne, Rhys offers two sessions, one for zero to 18-months-old and one for 12-months to three-years-old, with his goal being to expand and grow to offer bespoke sessions for children of all ages.

‘The concept has been really well received, there was definitely a gap in the market’ Rhys said.

‘The whole idea is rather than playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I play songs that the parents like, but that is engaging for the children too.

‘It really is about it being a family experience.

‘For example, I tell the story of The Three Little Pigs, but I mix it with Iron Maiden’s Run to the Hills.

‘I tell the story of Humpty Dumpty but to the tune of Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes’ Rhys added.

And, naturally, Rhys’ opening track for his sessions is AC-DC, with The Killers and Foo Fighters a part of the mix too, as well as Brit-pop icons Pulp, Blur and Oasis.

‘I adapt them to be baby and toddler friendly Rhys said.

The idea for Baby Rockers came, rather fittingly, from a baby - Rhys’ nephew.

‘My nephew, who has just turned one-year-old, any time he would come around our house he would be transfixed by my guitars’ Rhys said.

‘He would really respond to the songs that I like playing, he loves when I play Mr Brightside, if he was crying it would stop him in his tracks.

‘And that is what led to the thought that there is something in this, why don't people do this?

‘Why is it always Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?’ Rhys said.

An annual affair, the Muddy Stiletto Awards seek nominations for 21 lifestyle categories, including Best Hair Salon.

Voting in the regional finals lasts until April 15, with winners being announced on April 30.

Regional winners from every category will automatically go through to the national finals.

To vote for Rhys in the awards, visit the Muddy Stilettos website or click here.

‘It would be amazing to win’ Rhys said.

‘It would massively help push the business forward’ he added.

Last year’s winner of ‘Best Children’s Business’ was The Mothership, a provider of innovative parent and child classes and support in Newton Abbot.

‘I have been supported by Sophie at The Mothership.

‘When I was setting up, I was going into it totally blind and I was put in contact with Sophie.

‘She has helped massively, they are amazing’ Rhys added.