THE Grand Final at The Junction on Wednesday has been hailed as one of the best in the Band Competition s 34-year history. The four heat winners and the audience-vote winners were watched by around 400 people and a panel of 10 judges drawn from the local

THE Grand Final at The Junction on Wednesday has been hailed as one of the best in the Band Competition's 34-year history.

The four heat winners and the audience-vote winners were watched by around 400 people and a panel of 10 judges drawn from the local music industry.

The night got off to a great start with audience favourites, Under the Streetlamp who performed a tight, well-written set with an excellent vocal performance.

Bedford based Hekz were second up. This incredibly young band had the audience gasping at their technical proficiency and pounding beats.

The band's guitarists are clearly influenced by the likes of Iron Maiden with incredible twin solos, and vocalist Matt Young has such a powerful voice that it would be easy to see this band swaggering on to develop a long career in music.

Flamboyant Bella won the audience vote on the night and also scooped the Vertical Rooms Studio prize for best song and the Quite Great PR prize for Band most likely to...

Their music is based on classic pop formulas but has a modern twist akin to bands like Friendly Fires and Foals. They have some killer tunes and a singer with loads of potential.

Fugazirum played fourth on the bill and despite being without their drummer they played a great set in an unplugged fashion.

Their mix of guttural blues and up tempo hip-hop rap from the experienced MC Moshman was a real crowd pleaser. This is a band who can really engage with their audience and got the evening's first sing-a-long going and lots of arm waving and clapping.

The night, however, ultimately belonged to Cambridge based band The Hot Bang. This group of teenagers ripped through a blistering and inspired set of folk, world and jazz influenced tunes and generated loads of impromptu country dancing all the way to the bar.

Their distinctive style of bagpipe pop went down incredibly well and drew comparisons with bands like the Peatbog Fairies. John Wheeler from Hayseed Dixie, who was the guest judge for the night, commented before presenting them with their prize that:" They'd go down well at almost any festival in Europe. Hell yeah!"

RICHARD BROWN