SIMMONS Park became Okehampton's very own 'mini-Glastonbury' last weekend, as the Battle of the Bands 2009 final took place on Saturday.

A huge crowd of all ages gathered in the park to enjoy a feast of live music, colourful sideshows, tasty food — and a huge inflatable slide for the energetic!

Organiser Richard Appleby said he was particularly pleased to see so many extended groups of families and friends in the park.

He said: 'I think it is very important for people to get together in company like this and to celebrate some of the good things in life.

'It is easy to lose sight of simple values in our stress-filled world and for me at least, music and community spirit make the world a much better place.'

Six bands competed for the title, during a series of heats which Richard said was the strongest line-up yet.

'Each of the big six were worthy of victory,' said Richard.

First up were Half Price Waffles from Exeter, the youngest band of the night with the toughest job to do.

Richard said: 'They showed a class and maturity beyond their years with a tight, well-rehearsed set of rather darker material than we saw at their heat. Featuring a young lady just 15, on lead vocals, the Waffles set a high standard for others to follow.'

Four-piece Jonny Black from Barnstaple continued from where they had left off in the heats. Driving punk, plus the dynamic stage presence of vocalist Butters, had the crowd on their feet as the sun went down.

The Sum Of generated an incredibly tight and energy-filled performance, which reached out to all parts of a very diverse audience.

Richard said: 'They had that rare quality of unity where the whole is indeed greater than "the sum of" the parts.'

From Exeter, Sunshine Getaway came bouncing onto the stage with energy and orange hair. Their originality — in material and stage act — showed musical maturity way beyond their years, said Richard.

Go Green Monkey had to pull out all the stops to stay in touch. Having acquired an extra lady backing singer since the heats, the Monkeys played their socks off with original numbers.

The Sam Dowden Band from North Devon were predominantly semi-acoustic, with a more organic and considered sound, delivering a melodic, thoughtful set.

Richard said: 'Once again, the judges had the nigh-on impossible task of putting the bands into some kind of order.'

First place eventually went to The Sum Of, who won a recording session presented by Aardvark Studios at Sourton. Second were the Sam Dowden Band, who selected an electric guitar donated by Richard's Time Machine mobile disco as their prize. Jonny Black came third and in fourth were Sunshine Getaway — both chose guitars from Richard's Time Machine.

Go Green Monkey in fifth place chose the second recording session at Aardvark Studios, and in sixth place were Half Price Waffles, who won a valuable one-to-one vocal coaching session with Paul Wilson of the Wren Trust.

With the formalities over, the rest of the evening belonged to special guest band Staid as Quo, who delighted the audience with their set of classic Status Quo hits.

Richard expressed thanks to all the charities and organisations who helped the Battle of the Bands become such a success, particularly those who contributed on the night, including Okehampton Lions, the Rotary Club, Round Table, and Masonic Lodge. He also wished to record the generosity of the White Hart Hotel and Upcott House B&B.