ROCK legends the Animals have been unveiled as the headline act for the third annual Battle of the Bands competition in Okehampton. The illustrious band will take to the stage at the grand open air final of the event taking place in Simmons Park this August, following the competition to find the cream of local talent. The Animals were formed in Newcastle in the early 60s, and are best known for hits such as House Of The Rising Sun, Don?t Let Me Be Misunderstood and We Gotta Get Out Of This Place. The current Animals and friends line-up still features two of the original members from the band?s heyday. The focus of the free event though, remains on giving a chance for up and coming local bands to take their first steps to stardom by playing to an excited audience of friends, family and gig-goers. The man who set up the event, Okehampton businessman Richard Appleby said: ?Local young talent is very important to the success of our event, so if you think your band has got what it takes, don?t miss the opportunity to prove it and win some great prizes.? Richard said he was delighted to have secured the services of such an established act. ?I was put in touch with their manager and luckily they had a date free. They were previously booked to appear in the Netherlands, but that fell through, so they were happy to play in Okehampton,? he said. The band has a busy summer lined up, playing at music festivals across Europe, including dates in Denmark, Italy and Croatia, plus the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival. Mr Appleby said although the Animals were a veteran act, their songs were still familiar to many of the younger generation of musicians, who the competition had been set up to benefit. ?When people start out playing guitar, House of the Rising Sun is one of the first things they ever learn to play,? he said. However, Mr Appleby said the event was not just for young guitar groups, and he was hoping for an even broader range of musical styles this year. ?Any kind of style is welcome, whether it?s a big soul band or a reggae group. All you need to be able to do is to play a twenty minute spot,? he said. Entry forms for bands or musicians who want to enter the Battle of the Bands are now available from Millennium Music in the Arcade, Okehampton. There will be three heats in the Charter Hall, Okehampton on July 20, July 27 and August 3. The winners and runners-up from these heats will get the chance to share the stage with the celebrated headliners at the grand final on August 12. For more information about this year?s event, visit the website http://www.millenium-music.net">www.millenium-music.net
