Mark King, of Level 42 will help choose the winners at this year's Bestival Bands and DJs competition
ISLAND bands and DJs will battle it out tonight (Thursday) for the chance to perform at this year's Bestival.
Rob da Bank has selected five Isle of Wight bands and five DJs who will fight it out on stage at Northwood House, Cowes, tomorrow, from 7pm-11.30pm.
Last years' winners Elmo & Beavz, now part of The Playground Syndicate, impressed Rob da Bank so much they have now been booked for this year's Bestival and have a slot at Bestival’s twin-festival, Serbia’s Exit Festival, later this year.
Rob da Bank will be on the judging panel alongside Level 42's Mark King. Unfortunately Mike Cuban of The Cuban Brothers had to withdraw from the judging panel.
Find out more about the bands and DJs in the grand final below:
Naked Fridays
"We are an alternative rock band from the Isle of Wight, who all attend Platform One. We try very hard to be individual and different from any other artists but at the same time we want everyone to be able to enjoy and be able to relate to our music.
"We cover things from slow piano and punk to heavy electronica. Reuben and Jake are the main songwriters, the songs are based on things that have happened or real things they have felt.
Welcome to the world of Naked Fridays...enjoy :)"
Southern Big Man
"Dear Citizens of the world, I am Jono not Bono and I welcome you to Southern Big Man."
All Washed Up
"All Washed up are a group of good friends brought together by toe-tapping music and fun times. Our influences stem from blues, bluegrass and skiffle genres. We also like to put our own All Washed up twang on popular songs. With an eclectic mix of banjo, mandolin, ukelele, guitar, bass, kazoo and washboard, we play feel good, foot-stomping tunes that are good for the soul and dancing of course."
Capo 4
"The band are all 13 years old and have been a girl band of four members since December 2011. Our guitarist is Lucy Daniels and our flautist is Emily Whitewick; Antonia Thwaites and Annie Sussman are singers, along with Lucy and Emily. We all go to Ryde School with Upper Chine and are singing pupils of Linda Filby Borrett. Most of out life has been spent on the Island and we have known each other for years — two of us since birth! All of us are very musical and we write out own material and arrange covers with four part harmonies! We love experimenting with different styles, from folk to pop to rock and can’t wait for the final."
The Golden Strands
"The Golden Strands explode from the studio with her debut album, sounding dirtier, grittier and sexier than ever before. They’ve spent time
finding their own style and it’s come out much like a new born. Kicking and screaming and absolutely beautiful.
"This summer, they’re planning a massive album launch party, an appearance at V-Dub Festival, more gigs at The Joiner’s Arms in Southampton, and much more. The music, style, vibrancy and post-apocalyptic disco sounds of The Golden Strands leaves you with no choice but to move. Influences along these lines — The dead Weather, PJ Harvey, Stevie Wonder, Muse, The Beatles, Does It Offend You, Yeah? And The Joy Formidable."
Shortlisted DJs
Get Carter
"DJ Get Carter, aka George Carter is a party DJ who plays anything from Stevie Wonder to Skrillex. Her mission is to get people dancing and she loves loves to bring excitement to her sets by dropping an old track and mashing it up with a dance track to make her own unique remixes. Her influences are Jaguar Skills, Kissy Sell Out and A. Skillz and she hopes to be following in their footsteps one day by gracing the stages of festivals and Superclubs around the globe.
The March Hare
Risen from the ashes of his former persona (Cosine), the March Hare has bounced his way on to the scene with piercing synths and wobbling basslines, with Bestival’s giant speaker stacks in his view. Expect hybrids of dubstep, electro, garage and breaks, all mixed up into one crazy ball that only Wonderland could birth.
Erik Bruce
I am a progressive DJ/producer. My sound us a blend of progressive house, breaks and techno. I have been DJing since 94, but have taken the last couple of years to find my feet as a producer (although you can always catch me hosting the TTNT mix sessions on Wightparty Radio, every Saturday 4 til 8pm, bringing you the best in undergrounds, breaks and techno.
Adventures in Sound
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Plasmonic
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