Bands to battle it out (From Stroud News and Journal)

Bands to battle it out

A BATTLE of the Bands competition, organised in conjunction with Hollow Altar recording studio, is to be held in Nailsworth over several months next year.

The heats will take place in February, March, April and May 2006 at the Comrades Club, which has been selected because of its excellent sound quality. The final will be held in the summer.

The main prize for the overall winner is to be a week of recording time, together with recording engineer, at Hollow Altar recording studio in Cheltenham.

The finished product from these sessions will be packaged and sold at the Trading Post in Stroud, who are sponsoring the event. There are also plans to release a compilation CD featuring the bands from the competition.

In addition, the bands coming first and second in the final will perform at a gig arranged by the organisers in the Stroud area. There will also be prizes for the heat winners. At each heat, three bands will play, with the top one going through to the final.

The winners will be decided by the audience and a panel of music industry judges. Organiser Roger Fauske, of DMS promotions said: "There are a great many talented bands and musicians in the Stroud District, unfortunately they often find themselves suffocated and lacking opportunity.

"This is a chance to put the music first. We hope to make this an annual event."

The competition is open to any bands and artists who do not have a recording contract.

Entries must be received by January 19 2006 and a demo CD and band information should be included with each entry. Entry forms are available from the Trading Post in Stroud, or online at www.dinism.co.uk