Battle of the Bands Heat 1
THE gloves are on and the battlelines are drawn for the biggest local live music competition in Far North Queensland, starting at the Cairns Courthouse Hotel today.
In its fifth year, the timeOUT Battle Of The Bands is an annual talent search that aims to find the best live act in Far North Queensland to play at the timeOUT Day In The Park on August 14.
Of the 32 bands that submitted entries in the lead-up to the event, 18 of the best were chosen from a diverse range of styles to take part in the heats over the next two weekends.
Among the bands stepping up to the plate today are Far Northern Soul Collective, The Vintage, Projekt Tile, Definite Article and Willba, Here Is Now, Wreckin’ Crew, Jobstopper, The Venus Project and Phoenix Rising.
The three top bands from the first heat will then be chosen by a panel of judges to compete in the final on July 31.
Two of the bands looking forward to taking the stage today are Projekt Tile and Chronic Haze.
The only problem is both the bands share two common members, meaning that vocalist Richie Bakvis and bass player Leigh Jeffries have the unusual dilemma of competing against themselves.
"It doesn’t matter which band wins, we are going to give it out best," Leigh said.
"We are just happy to both be able to compete in Battle Of The Bands, it’s the best competition of its type in North
Queensland."
The timeOUT Battle Of The Bands Heat 1 is today at the Cairns Courthouse Hotel today from 4pm. Entry is free. Heat 2 is on July 24 and the Grand Final is on July 31.
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Ready to rumble: Leigh Jeffries, Courthouse Hotel owner Claude Mangifesta and Richard Bakvis get set for the battle of the bands. Picture: MARC McCORMACK
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