TALENT and energy were on display when the Okehampton Battle of the Bands took place on Saturday as part of a charity music festival, writes Sarah Pitt.

Five bands showed their talents before a crowd in the beer garden of The Kings Arms on Saturday afternoon.

The contest, part of the Open Arms Music Festival, was won by five-piece rock band Such Creatures from the Tiverton area.

Their prize is to play at Chagstock music festival in Chagford in July.

‘Such Creatures are a fantastically energetic band, really really tight and very very well-rehearsed,’ said organiser Chris Hodgson.

‘They put on a very very good show with great original songs and have got a very bright future ahead of them in my opinion.’

Also competing were The Pretty Idle from Tavistock, Bad Seed, Downfall and The Axis from Okehampton.

‘They all performed to a very high standard,’ said Chris. ‘It was wonderful to see.’

The Pretty Idle and The Axis both won a professional photoshoot with photographer Gareth Roberts of Cappature_live, who captured much of the action on the day.

Bad Seed, from Okehampton, playing their first-ever gig, also impressed the audience.

‘They won the crowd over,’ said Chris. ‘They were a bit nervous but the lady who sang was wonderful, I don’t think she realises what a great voice she has. It might be their first gig, but it certainly won’t be their last.’

He added that it was great to see Downfall, the Okehampton band which won Battle of the Bands in the town in 2013, back performing.

‘It was wonderful nostalgia, with lots and lots of raw energy,’ he said. ‘Hopefully they’ll be back to do a few gigs.’

The event went on into the evening, with a finale headlined by The Monkey Gland Blues Band, replacing Green Day tribute Dookie and Blink 185 tribute, Blinked 182, who were both forced to pull out due to illness.

‘It went on until quarter past nine, when we had to stop because of thunder and lightning,’ said Chris.

He thanked landlord Rob Bass and Mark Annear for their help on the day, and sponsors Okehampton United Charities, Travis Perkins and The Kings Arms.

The contest was a welcome boost for the town’s live music scene, after last year’s Battle of the Bands in Simmons Park was cancelled, ending a 13-year run for the event in the town.