FAVOURITES Fosta won the inaugural Okehampton ?Battle of the Bands? title in front of a packed Charter Hall to wrap up the hugely successful competition.

After three heats showcasing some great local bands, hometown heroes Fosta beat off stiff competition to be chosen as winners from the ?magnificent seven? in the final held Thursday.

Fosta?s victory was announced to cheers of delight from the band?s large following.

Okehampton businessman Richard Appleby, whose vision made the Battle of the Bands happen, says he hopes the competition can now become an annual event.

Fosta are ?battle of the bands? veterans, having seen off a number of aspiring rockers to win at a contest at the prestigious Cavern venue in Exeter last year.

Fosta comprise Jim Hanington on vocals and guitar, Ricky Drew on bass, Martyn Campbell on drums and recently recruited additional guitarist James Parmenter.

Ricky described the band?s show at the final as ?wicked? with the audience on the night giving a ?great response? to the band?s music.

He said there was a different atmosphere at Okehampton?s battle of the bands than at similar events they had played in the past.

?It was much more fun. Everybody was welcoming and less judgmental. Everyone seemed to care about the bands,? he said.

Fosta have got their own gig at the King?s Arms coming up on September 3, and have recently produced their own CD. Ricky said the band had written between 15 and 20 songs together, many of which they will be performing at their longer set at the King?s Arms.

Fosta took their name as a tribute of sorts to the members? favourite tipple; the lager which is known as the ?amber nectar?.

Richard Appleby said he wanted to build on the event?s success, and was aiming to hold the competition again next year, to give a leg-up to even more local bands and musicians. He said he also had hopes of being able to incorporate a gig in Simmons Park as part of next year?s event.

He was delighted with how well the whole event had gone. ?I looked out and saw people were smiling and having agreat time. I think we were lucky that it seemed to fill this vacuum and has shown there is an appetite for live music in Okehampton

?The whole atmosphere in town has changed. Everyone was talking about the Battle of the Bands. Lots of the young people in the hall may never have seen a live band before, and it was introducing them to something new.?

Richard said he had sold several beginner?s guitar packages in Millennium Music in the arcade in the days after the contest, which demonstrated people were being inspired to pick up instruments and make music.

He felt ?immensely proud? of all the musicians and the great job done by everyone behind the scenes.

Mayor of Okehampton Cllr Tony Leech was full of praise for the event: ?The atmosphere was absolutely brilliant. There were people of all ages and anything that brings that volume of people together has to be good for the town.?.

Cllr Leech said he thought making the Battle of the Bands an annual event could be a ?very good idea?.

Okehampton guitar and drums duo Shockwave Generators were delighted to have made the final which represented only their second gig together.

Shockwave Generators drummer Andy said afterwards, that that he and singer/guitarist Sezrah had enjoyed playing to such an enthusiastic audience.

?It is good for Okehampton. There has been so little in terms of live music in the last couple of years. Everyone was really supportive and there was a really nice atmosphere between all the bands,? Andy said.

Keeping the excitement level at fever pitch during the breaks between bands at the final was DJ Dave Weekes, who coolly manned the decks as he had during all of the heats.

Full result: 1, Fosta; 2, Two Foot Giant; 3, Remember The Alamo; 4, Nell Hubbard Band; 5, Raucous Pigeon; 6, Shockwave Generators; 7, Wishful Thinking.

For more reports and profiles of the bands visit the independent music website http://www.rockbest.com">www.rockbest.com

A special commemorative CD featuring tracks from the finalists should be available soon said Richard, profits from which will go towards holding next year?s event, as will sales of the remaining ?Battle of the Bands? t-shirts, which are still available from Millennium Music.

l Battle of the Bands may be over, but the summer of live music in Okehampton continues tomorrow night (Friday).

The King?s Arms is playing host to a gig by Hendrix-style rock band EXP, who themselves narrowly missed out on a spot in the final.