BATTLE commences tonight (Thursday) as excited musicians turn on their amps to take part in the first heat of the second Okehampton bands contest. Battle of the Bands 2005 gets underway in the Charter Hall with the first band taking the stage at 6.30pm and the show closing at 10.30pm. Six local bands will compete for the two spots in the grand final in Simmons Park next month. They are Critical Mass; Flick; Genuine Imitation; The Day I Die; Etched In Stone; Undermined. Each band will play for a maximum of 20 minutes. Organiser Richard Appleby, who runs Millennium Music, said it had come as a ?big surprise? to him last year, how popular the contest had been, and he was enthusiastic but nervous about the upcoming event. ?I am very excited indeed. I am also a bit nervous, because it was so exciting last year, it was such a wonderful experience, I am wondering whether we can do it again. ?The ingredients are all there, the talent is all there, and hopefully we will get the atmosphere right again.? Richard said each of the heats featured a wide range of styles and ages among those taking to the stage. He said the bands were playing ?to have fun and gain experience? as well as standing a chance of winning great prizes, which included a full-day in a recording studio. Richard said Jeff from Aardvark Recording Studio at Sourton would be one of the judging panel and was hoping to record the whole competition to produce a special edition CD after the event. The proceeds from this would go towards next year?s Battle of the Bands. Other prizes on offer include an electric and acoustic guitar donated by Millennium Music, and specialist vocal coaching from the Wren Trust. There will also be awards to the best new young band, outstanding musician of the final and the famous purple plectrum air guitar contest. Doors open at 6pm, tickets are free but will be awarded on a first come first served basis. Richard said the competition was only possible thanks to the generous support of the following local charities, businesses and organisations: Awards for All; Okehampton Town Council; Rotary Club; EX20 Lottery; Okehampton United Non-Ecclesiastical Trust; GTI Printers; Pearsall Jewellers; the Musicians? Union; Round Table; Lions Club; Okehampton Show; the Police; King?s Arms; Pickled Walnut; Okehampton College; Okehampton Times; Peter, Peter and Wright and Robert Humphrey Chartered Accountants. l Local punk band The Day I Die will be selling copies of their debut EP at tonight?s heat. The proceeds from those copies of the four-track EP titled ?Better late than never? sold during the three weeks of the Battle of the Bands, will be donated to charity.
