Musicians are ready for Battle of the Bands

Sep 30 2009 by Judith Tonner, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

MONKLANDS’ aspiring musicians have the chance to hit the high notes as North Lanarkshire’s annual battle of the bands gets underway.

The winners and runners-up will be rewarded with recording sessions of varying lengths at Beetroot Studios in Petersburn in Airdrie.

Applications are now being accepted and 12 semi-finalists will be chosen – half to compete in a heat at Sir John Wilson Town Hall in Airdrie with the other taking place in Bellshill.

Three bands from each evening will then be chosen by professional judges to go forward to December’s final in Motherwell.

On offer for the winners is six days of recording at the studios on Varnsdorf Way; the second and third placed groups will respectively receive four and two days of studio time.

Entry costs £3 per band, who must also supply a non-returnable demo tape or CD and a group photograph.

All entrants must be aged over 16 and live or attend music classes in North Lanarkshire or have recorded at Beetroot Studios.

The semi-final at Sir John Wilson town hall will be on November 19 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £3, are available to over-16s only and can be obtained at www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk or by calling 01698 403120. For further information call 01236 812200.