OUR local music scene is thriving at present and the Ma Murphy’s Battle of the Bands final was further proof.
While bands such as The Heartbreaks, Idol Minds and Liar Liar have grabbed headlines of late, the five entrants in the Irish pub’s contest on August 25 are definitely coming up on the rails.
Up to 300 people jammed themselves into the pub to hear the performances from punk metal teenagers Scarred ID, some of whom were only 15, rockers Blackheart Afterglow, funk-soul Big Door Open, melodic pop act The Remedy Project and loud and proud heavy metalheads Massive Wagons.
Scarred ID had their army of young fans screaming with excitement as they played a mixture of original songs and covers including Green Day’s American Idiot and Enter Sandman by Metallica.
They and Massive Wagons ran the eventual winners, Blackheart Afterglow from Morecambe, very close but in the end the five-piece’s dynamic brand of brooding rock ‘n’ roll earned them the £500 prize. The band, fronted by Phil Turner, are tipped to go on to great things.
The music was fantastic and there was a great and lively atmosphere in the pub.
Judges were Greg Lambert, chief reporter and entertainments editor for The Visitor newspaper, Cherish Otoo from Ma Murphy’s and musicians Cameron Seddon and Jeepster Gaz.