The end of battle of the bands?

by Will Walder

The Doubtful Guest won the Moles battle of the bands competition in 2004

Bands from across Wiltshire used to see the Moles 'Battle of the bands' competition as a good way of getting themselves known across the west.

Now the new owners of the venue have declared it has happened for the last time and they area are a thing of the past.

Ric Yerbury has come up with a different way of promoting new talent from the area.

His idea could see acts from Wiltshire making their name in Liverpool.

Sound City

Ric is part of the group which has taken over the Moles group which includes Moles Studio and the Porter Cellar Bar next door to the main venue.

He thinks there are too many battle of the bands competitions about at the moment and the actual value of winning them does not mean as much to the bands as it does to the takings of the bar and on the door at the venue itself.

If you look at the relative success of The Doubtful Guest from Swindon, he may have a point.

Doubtful Guest

After The Doubtful Guest won both the Moles 'Battle of the bands' and Porter Cellar 'Battle of the musos' competitions in 2004, things were expected to really take off for the group who were talked about as being one of the best live acts in the South West.

Five years on and they have reaffirmed their reputation for being a great live band by playing Glastonbury three times and gigging tirelessly around the area. They have also released one album with another soon to be on the way.

However, the reputation of winning both competitions has not attracted A&R scouts from any labels and they still remain unsigned.

The number of people who have won battle of the bands and gone on to be successful are quite few and far between Ric Yerbury - Moles

Showcasing Talent

Ric has decided to replace the battle of the bands format by inviting bands from across Wiltshire to a series of five showcasing events which will be held at the venue to promote local talent in the area.

He says that he will use his links with Liverpool Sound City to send the best three or four bands to play there and hopefully enhance the reputation of music from the west country.

Already The Motherload from Malmesbury and Electric Contradiction from Corsham have played two of the showcases with more Wiltshire bands to follow.

Whether this is a viable alternative to a "Battle of the bands" competition and being crowned the best best band of all above all others, only time can tell.