Ten Bands Keyed Up For Play-off

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday October 13, 2007

By TOM STURROCK

THE first heat of the Mercury BlueScope band competition kicks off on Wednesday, giving 10 young groups the chance to make a name for themselves.

Heats will be held at the City Diggers Club and with cash prizes, studio time and a supporting gig at the Rock 'n' Roll Heaven concert up for grabs, competition is set to be fierce.

Wollongong band Afterwake will be one of the acts on show on Wednesday night.

Lead singer Ben Griffiths is keen to make the most of this opportunity.

"Our friends all pulled the ad out of the Mercury and suggested we enter - it's a good opportunity to get our name out there and get our stuff played," he said.

"There are less and less openings for young bands in Wollongong these days, so it's important to get our feelers out there."

The prospect of joining a bill which includes some of the biggest names in Australian rock is the greatest incentive for young acts making their way in the dog-eat-dog music industry.

"That sounds fantastic," Ben said. "Playing in front of such a big crowd would be awesome - you just play better and it's an incredible feeling."

Entries are flooding in for the Mercury BlueScope band competition's later heats.

Wednesday's line-up:

AFTERWAKE

GYPSY-JUVENILE

MINUTE HAND

PACER

RAGING BULL

THE CONSPIRACY PLAN

THE GREENROOM

THE RUMOUR MILL

THROWAWAY KIDS

VELOCITY MONKS

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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