Midlands Battle of the Bands and Acts contest– Results

The Midlands battle of the bands and acts contest took place in Bedford at the Corn Exchange this weekend, as the Live and Unsigned Area Final rolled into town.

The Area Final brought together the best unsigned acts from the Midlands and Bedford in a bid to make it to the National Grand Final at Live Fest. The winners are now off to the O2 on the 23rd July to play in the final for the chance to take the title of Best Unsigned Act 2011.

The headline act taking to the stage alongside the Live and Unsigned Regional Finalists in Bedford was the unique grime and hip-hop act, FDot1. The urban act has appeared on Ras Kwame's 1Xtra show, winning his Home Grown talent competition and been a regular on DJ 279's Friday Night Flava on Choice FM. 2010 Open Mic winner, for the under 18’s category, Hatty Keane also played at the showcase.

Judges presiding over the Midlands and Bedford Area Final included Nigel Clarke, lead singer of Dodgy, Alex Baker, from Kerrang! and DJ for the Kerrang Unsigned Show, vocal tutor Christine Evans, Carly Jackson, event manager of OsFest, Dutch Van Spall, from Big Help Management, Benjamin Price from High Peak Radio and Chris Grayston, Head of A&R at Future Music.

With so much talent, it was difficult for the judges to make a decision and the successful acts that are through to the National Grand Final are listed below. Congratulations to those that made it through to National Grand Final at Live Fest in London’s O2 on the 23rd July.

 

Area Final Winners

Haunted Tranquillity

Pandemick

4 Mula

Jack Kenworthy Trio

Harry Jones

Fire and Fireplaces

Pink Traffic Band

Katie Dove-Dixon

Aggyfro

RainBoy

The Trinity Band

Blackstar Exposure Award–There will be an award for the act with the largest quantity and quality of submitted publicity material in relation to the competition. The act with the most press cuttings or recorded radio interviews on each Area Final day will win a prize. As the winning act was a band they will receive a free Blackstar HT-5 half stack amplifier with head and cab (approx value £400).This goes to; Pandemick

Festival Partner Award - Carly Jackson, Event Manager of OsFest judged the Area Finals in Bedford, and was so impressed with the talent that she has chosen The Trinity Band and Arcade Parade to play at the popular festival on Saturday 28th May. The festival takes place between the 27th - 30th May in Oswestry, Shropshire . Congratulations!

For those acts who didn’t progress through to the Grand Finals, don’t forget to use your Wildcard! All acts have been given a Wildcard in the form of a national public vote. There is just one place up for grabs and just two weeks to make your mark, so keep an eye out on the website and get voting for that last National Grand Final spots!

For information on the Grand Final and to purchase tickets visit the Live and Unsigned Live fest page. Or further details of guest acts playing the London’s biggest indoor festival “Live Fest” incorporating the National Grand Final visit www.LiveFest.co.uk