Music Features

As far as anticipated local events go, the excitement generated by the Cambridge Band Competition has remained unrivalled since its inception 20 years ago. The competition has stood the test of time, largely due to the incredible demand for local music; a mantra which has recently been revived with the success of local indie favourites Hamfatter.

It's refreshing to see that the crowds remain eager to gather at the Soul Tree in support of their chosen band throughout this gruelling battle of musical endurance, and this year's competition looks set to exceed the high standards that the competition is renowned for.

Previous competitions have showcased a diverse selection of bands from Cambridgeshire and the surrounding area, and reassuringly, this year promises no drastic change of affair.

Heat 1

The first band on stage was 'Alpha Road', and they took the opportunity to make a blistering impact, introducing themselves with thundering drums and an array of catchy riffs to match.

Alpha Road

Persistent rhythm changes and vocal technique proved a successful combination, making for an unpredictable and exciting listen. Alpha Road arguably had the strongest set list in terms of crowd response and originality, and at times were reminiscent of early Kinks. With the crowd delighting in this surprisingly modern sounding slice of retro-indie nostalgia, the band looks set to blaze a trail of success across Cambridgeshire; definitely ones to watch.

With a distinguished band name and no obvious insight to the genre of music the band played, 'Little Chuck Little' may have had more of a positive reception if they'd played higher up on the bill. With no obvious following, 'Little Chuck Little' were always going to be the underdogs, but they pulled off the difficult task of winning over an unfamiliar crowd without so much as a grimace. They were tight, with a dominant rhythm section and vocals that ranged from snarls, shouts and bleats to classic rock vocals reminiscent of light hardcore bands that dominated the underground punk scene during the 80's. Crowd interaction was not high up on their list of priorities, but the quality of the songs more than appealed to the audience, with the band choosing passion over quirks to get the appreciation they truly deserve.

Not so much arriving on stage as erupting, London/Cambridge band 'Sensible Fun' brought a quirky feel to the night's proceedings, maybe a direct reference to their name. With the boundaries thoroughly blurred between hardcore and unashamed heavy metal, the band eviscerated a set-list that comprised of technical guitars, loud drums and even louder vocals. The band enticed an entire dance floor assembly with their blend of passion-fuelled music and onstage antics. Even before the band took to the stage, over two-thirds of the crowd seemed to be in support of them, which undoubtedly fuelled their consistent compulsion to entertain; NOT to be missed.

The final band of the evening was 'The Perfect Crime'. After a shaky start, the band quickly redeemed themselves with a set-list comprising of heartfelt crescendo's, shifting tempo's, melodic introductions and an originality that filled the void left by the other bands. From the first note, the crowd were captivated; from the flawless double kick of the drums, to the soaring range in which the vocalist excelled, the trio were evocative of current British sensations 'We Are The Ocean' and 'INME'. With screams accentuating the more intense sections of the songs and faint whispered lyrics accompanying the clean guitars perfectly, the band was not only tight, but incredibly diverse, proving fit to be placed alongside an endless array of artists, should they continue to receive applaud such as they did after the final notes of the set rung out.

Heat 1 Winners: Sensible Fun

There is a lot of pressure for the bands to live up to the hype and expectations of those involved in the local music scene, but after witnessing the showcase of talents on display tonight there should be no doubt; the bands on the bill were shining examples of how good the local Cambridge scene can be, as long as there are people to support it... and after all, we're only the first round in...