All eight bands were given the opportunity to practise for more than an hour at the Rehearsal Rooms, in Bury St Edmunds, on Saturday, to prepare their 25-minute sets.

Organiser Simon Pickering, of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, and joint owner of the Rehearsal Rooms Ken Last were impressed by the sounds they heard and said the audience should expect good things on the night.

Mr Last said: "It's good for me as I have got to see the bands that don't normally rehearse here, such as Solstice. There's been great anticipation because it sold out amazingly quickly last year.

"It's the age group that are almost too young to go to gigs in pubs and clubs, so it's the big thing to be able to go to in Bury."

Tickets are already selling well for all three nights – October 17, October 31 and November 14 – and each heat will be opened by the guest bands My Little Red Door and Vanilla Kicks.

Simon said: "It's going to be the best night for young people in the town, with the best bands and the best venue. It's a lot better this year in terms of music variety.

"All the bands are good as a lot of them are fresh and new."
The line-up includes Head-Full, Amberlight, Luv Dump, Suicide Dollz, Selective Walk, Beneath The Inferno, Solstice and, the latest band to be announced, It's Not Me, It's You.

Suicide Dollz, who were winners of a battle of the bands at Stradbrooke High School, said they were looking forward to the competition to get their name heard in Bury.

Tom Rose, guitarist, said: "We have never done anything like this before and it's got quite a good reputation. We are quietly confident as we like to get a lot of energy going, but we haven't heard a lot of the bands yet."

Band members of Selective Walk were also a mix of nerves and excitement in anticipation of their place in the second heat.

Michael Cockayne, guitarist, said: "People should expect a good show with a lot of energy."

Tickets are available from Soundsplus, in Risbygate Street, Bury Bus and Coach Station, in St Andrew's Street North, and the Tourist Information Centre, on Angel Hill.

To find out more, visit www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/play/burysound.cfm

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