Music Features

With the arrival of the concluding heat comes the last cherished opportunity to qualify for the final of the annual Band Competition. With the glimmering stash of musical doubloon within reaching distance for previous qualifiers Sensible Fun, The Scissors and A.R.T, the night’s bill had to exceed the high standards set by the preceding line-ups; a hard feat considering the venue was empty for the first 45 minutes of the heat...

Betty

Without a single instrument to clutter the confines of the stage upon their Soul Tree debut, transcendental trip-pop outfit ‘Betty’ were approached by the audience with notable caution.
Consisting of a brother and sister partnership, the band eschewed the short but sickly-sweet songs which dominate the current electro-pop scene, in favour of a set that consisted of longer electronic sound-scapes, accentuated by glitches and neatly rounded off with breakbeats and polyrhythms, which ensured the duo’s musical approach remained consistent within the genre they resound.

Betty, photographed by Elii Bright

Preceding heats of the competition were refused the micro-chip samples that saturated the night’s performance, and inevitably it seemed that ‘Betty’ were the band issued to fill this chasm of a void.

Prevalently, the duo performed with confidence, despite the resulting intimacy of their set, and saw the pair ready to embrace the freedom that came with a smaller crowd. Enthused dancing and layered rap vocals evocative of self-proclaimed ‘post-punk-laptop rapper’ MC Lars, the performance instigated similar ritualistic dance moves from the more enthusiastic members of the crowd, whilst successfully managing to bewilder the remaining stationary spectators.

On a stage that remained largely unfilled, the duo possessed a vulnerability which appealed to many, but despite relentless encouragement from the female lead, failed to hold a restless crowd; maybe due to their embryonic sound which, if further developed, holds potential to appeal to a larger demographic of local music supporters.

Ed Hope and Friends

Playing instruments both obscure and familiar are Ed Hope and his band of friends, who offer simple toe tapping acoustic folk to a very loyal following of fans. After two successful UK tours in support of previous releases 'Me against the Big Bad World' and most recently 'Hunny! The Funfair', Ed Hope... have already enjoyed commercial success, and are audibly keen to impress with a polished performance reflective of the group's collected dedication and musical capability.

Ed Hope and Friends by Elii Bright

Aesthetically assorted and with a distinguished stage set up, the band are quick to entice the dance floor assembly into filling the space left by the previous performance; evidence enough of the appeal the band have, even throughout the foundations of the set.

With lyrics inspired by typically southern topics and written from a simple perspective, the band creates an image of a well-travelled group, gathering influence from every corner of the musical spectrum. Experimenting with contrasting textures and tempo changes, the band exhibits a taste for subtle technicality, with the finished package remaining fragile, and the singer’s interpretation of the contemporary indie vocal style impressive from the off-set.

The demanding rhythm section allowed the remaining instruments to breathe, showcasing that Ed Hope and Friends own a musical wisdom that surpasses the young age of the band. Ed Hope and Friends are a band that, with regards to the current demographic of the local music scene, should feel restricted when playing within the boundaries of a less desirable genre; a fact the band has been keen to embrace, converting spectators and creating many fans from tonight’s spectacular performance.

Queen and Two Jacks

The penultimate band to take to the stage brought with them an unrivalled anticipation that has remained absent from the competition thus far. The youngest band to take to the stage, 'Queen and Two Jacks’ proved they could hold a stage just as successfully as their peers, and that they are more than just a clever name; a fact only broadened by the legions of adoring fans that arrived specifically for this band's performance.

Queen and Two Jacks by Elii Bright

Commencing the set with relevant apprehension, the trio were immediately overwhelmed with an eruption of approval, no doubt evocative of previous performances in the area. This pop induced frenzy in turn encouraged the arrival of the competition's first crowd surf; a sight to behold in a venue plagued by size restrictions and an ever increasing audience.

The pop trio create a musical landscape that relentlessly shifts from choppy to driving guitars and a technically ambitious keyboard, while the simple rhythm section aspires to keep the band in time. The lyrics are often laced with darker undertones that surpass the band's tender age, with songs about war highlighting the trio’s awareness of world affairs, a trait that yet further enhances the band's appeal.

The youthful energy of this trio is infectious, with the members of the band remaining humbled upon receiving applause from their extensive following of fans, many of which were created as a result of tonight’s dazzling performance. Queen and Two Jacks are the local scene's missing link between retro pop and most of the commercial, over produced, formulaic melodies of today.

Wild Hope

The final band of the evening respectively refused to be overshadowed by the popularity of previous band Queen and Two Jacks, and performed under the moniker Wild Hope. Although the most senior on a bill of questionably young bands, Wild Hope showed their undoubted ability to hold the attention of a crowd left dizzy from the previous performance, and change the venue's atmosphere accordingly.

Wild Hope by Elii Bright

The four piece play southern tinged rock songs with the rhythm persistently kept by the female drummer; a nice change of affairs in a predominantly male led competition. The vocalist is strong and often soars above the wash created by the whammied guitar riffs and fleeting bass lines, which left no stone on the fret board unturned.

Wild Hope proved to be the only band on the bill whose performance was not tainted by an out of time member, and were the tightest and most consistent of the night.

Winners - Heat 4

The winners of the concluding heat were Ed Hope & Friends who now join Sensible Fun, The Scissors and A.R.T. in the final at the Corn Exchange on the 15th May.

The audience vote was won by Queen & Two Jacks, however, due to conflicting circumstances, they are unable to play the final – This means the audience vote will now go to the band who had the 2nd amount of votes which is After Effect.

The line up for the final is therefore:

Sensible Fun
The Scissors
A.R.T.
Ed Hope & Friends
After Effect

The Cambridge Band Competition final will take place on Friday 15th May at the Corn Exchange. Tickets are available from the Corn Exchange box office (01223 357851).