Hi, and Good Luck

As the Editor of 'The Gig Guide', it is my pleasure to help promote the BOTB event at the Diner. In the next issue for Feb and March will be a preview of the compettion. It will be printed in a couple of weeks. Thanks, Dan

Here is the article in full....


Ashford’s Downtown Diner is fast becoming one of the most popular music venues in the whole of Kent, and in the next couple of months, it will stage one of the biggest events locally this year. “Battle of the bands”, will feature a menagerie of acts ranging from hip-hop to punk to emo, showcasing some of the most popular and up-coming performers in the county.

The set up is simple, four rounds or ‘groups’, each consisting of six bands, with the top two in each progressing to the semi finals. 17th February will be the date for the first of the four ‘group stage’ nights. Hip-Hoppers ‘ShyChlo and the Boys’ will be the opening act of the evening and competition, performing five of their original tracks, as will the other competitors. ‘Tell Simpson’, ‘What the Hell?’, ‘Under the Thumb’, ‘The Loud Howlers’ and ‘The Whisky Mystics’ complete the first night’s line-up.

One week later, on the 24th will see the second group of musicians battling out for a place in the semis. There will be ‘Hooked on a Feeling’ ‘Sentido’ ‘Three Rejects and a Hitchhiker’ ‘A Boy Named Girl’ ‘Average Contents’ as well as ‘Rise’ who will be last up.

‘Blanco Diesel’ ‘Tyrannosaurus Alan’ ‘Final Daze’ ‘Shock Treatment’ ‘Man Eat Monkey’ and ‘Glass Aztec!’ will make up the third group, playing on the 2nd March. And on the 9th March, the fourth and final group will consist of ‘Southwood’ ‘Cabaret Doll’ ‘Soundchaser’ ‘Cause a Riot!’ ‘Matt Wright and band’ and ‘Binge on Celery’.

Audience participation will play a big part in who makes it through as each spectator will be asked to judge their top act on the night. Voting slips are handed out to the crowd as they arrive at the venue and at the end of the evening, slips are filled in with each fan asked to give their opinions on the top three performers. 10 points are awarded to their favourite act, 7 points for 2nd and 5 for third. Results are then counted with the top two making it through.

There is a stipulation to the event however, making the battle even more exciting. Band’s are required to have a member aged 18 or under, so there will be a glimpse of what the local fans will be enjoying in the future.

Sue Bell, one of the promoters for the Ashford Diner is the person responsible for the exciting event. Sue has been putting on gigs in both Kent and Surrey for over three years and has been working at the venue since September of last year. This though, has been the biggest event staged at the Diner since her arrival, and she couldn’t be more pleased about the response so far.

An opportunity to record up to three tracks and spend a day at Ranscombe Studios in Rochester will be the top prize for the eventual winners of the competition as well as headlining a gig at the Diner later in the year. The eight semi finalists who progress from the four groups will battle it out over two nights in May, with the top two again making it through to the grand final on June 1st.

Entry to each stage of the event will be £4. For more information, you can contact Sue Bell using the Diner’s myspace page; www.myspace.com/downtowndinerashford

Great write up Dan, should get lots more outside interest from this. Just thought I would let you know, Dan is going to do a feature on the winning band in the Kent's Gig Guide, so how about that

The run up to the battle is getting so exciting

slick...

Looking good!

Excellent article Dan, the more publicity the battle gets the better it will be