Next Big Thing is back

Kim Briscoe The region's annual search for the brightest new bands is back for the fifth year running - with the cream of local musical talent going head to head for the title of Next Big Thing.

Kim Briscoe

The region's annual search for the brightest new bands is back for the fifth year running - with the cream of local musical talent going head to head for the title of Next Big Thing.

The semi-finalists have been announced for this year's competition, with judges saying they had a difficult time in whittling down the wealth of musical talent to just 12 acts.

Organised by Future Radio, partnership with the Evening News and its sister paper the Eastern Daily Press, the contest has been going from strength to strength each year, with past winners going on to bigger and better things.

Future Radio's station manager Tom Buckham thanked all the bands who entered this year's competition.

He said: “The Next Big Thing competition has been established by the Evening News and Eastern Daily Press as the most significant music competition in the region.

“We are extremely proud to be part of this competition which has attracted some of Norfolk's finest musicians.”

Fans of the local music scene are being urged to check out the cream of the crop at this year's semi-final gigs, at B2 at The Brickmakers in Sprowston Road, on Sunday, October 19, and Sunday, October 26.

Six of these acts, three from each semi-final, will make it through to the grand final at the University of East Anglia's LCR on Sunday, November 9.

As usual, a tantalising package of prizes is on offer for the winning band or soloist, including £750 of products from Professional Music Technology (PMT), a recording contract with NRONE Records, a £250 cash prize with business advice from Access to Music Norwich, and a studio package with Future Studios.

Oli Franzen, marketing and events executive for the Evening News, said: “Since we launched the competition we have been blown away by the talent in Norfolk's flourishing music scene and we are delighted the competition is continuing with such a wide ranging and exciting choice of bands this year.”

Tune in to Future Radio on 96.9FM for more details as they are released, including profiles of the semi-finalists, or log on to www.futureradio.co.uk.

A few days before both semi-finals the Evening News will be finding out more about each of the bands.

Do you have a story about the music scene in Norwich? Contact reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772419 or email kim.briscoe@archant.co.uk

The 12 semi-finalists are:

Adele Swallow, a singer/songwriter and her band playing a folk/blues/acoustic pop mix and made up of five people from Norwich

Cross Country Driver, a duo from Norwich playing soul music

Ed Sheeran, a singer/songwriter from Suffolk

Fever Fever, an alternative three-piece band from Norwich

Grave Mind, a four-piece band from Norwich playing a rock/metal/thrash mix

The Guidopops, an indie band whose four members hail from either side of the Norfolk/Suffolk border

i am error, a Norwich five-piece band playing alternative/rock/pop music

Killamonjambo, a funk/rock band whose six members come from Norfolk

The Lidi Berlins, a Norwich three-piece skiffle/punk band

The Moo, a four-piece punk rock/rap band from Norwich

Rigo Jancsi, a Norwich-based four-piece band playing a mix of indie and dance

Spitfire, an alternative/rock three-piece from Norfolk