The Final
It was all systems go at The Yorkshire Lass on the 20th May. Tonight saw the end to what can only be described as one of the most amazing battles of the bands we have seen. Every band that has taken part in the competition this year have been excellent and our judges have had some very difficult decisions to make in each round. Tonight was going to be no exception. Our finalists were Such Great heights who stormed their way through their first round and the Semi final, and One Night Stands who didn't make it in their first round but came back through in the Wildcard round and then went on to win in their semi final.
 
It must also be mentioned that throughout this competition many of the bands have supported each other in their respective heats. Heroes Fall First have been along to just about every round as have Dark Messiah, Reverb have been along to several shows too as have Such Great Heights. This kind of support shows how committed these young bands are to their art and many a friendship has developed over the course of the last few weeks. Hats off to every band who has taken part this year, each one of them deserved their place in the contest and each one of them has the potential to win this contest next year.
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One Night Stands are a 5 piece Experimental/Pop band from Billingham. They have been together since 2006 and in that time have built up a bank of original songs that are outstanding. Of late they have appeared at several high profile venues across the region and are beginning to build up quite a reputation as being one of the up and coming bands in the area. One thing that does set One Night Stands apart is the inclusion of Keyboards in the act. Luke Birdsall, puts out some amazing melodies on the keys which compliment each song. He also does backing 
vocals and rocks the whole time - often a keyboard player can go un-noticed with the main focus being on guitar and vocals. One Night Stands have a brilliant balance which involves every member of the band. Vocalist Jonny Parkin has a very distinctive sound, he clearly is passionate about the music these guys play with his performance often verging on the dramatic. Jonny is a true front man and each performance he has given has proved to be enjoyable and entertaining. Also in the line up we have Alex Blenkinsop, the Bass Guitarist. Alex is another fine musician who is an integral part of this line up. We have been extremely pleased to see him come out of his shell as this competition has taken place, his personality now shines through and that, coupled with his fantastic bass playing adds a special element to the performance of the band. Craig Grounds, the guitarist has put in an inspiring performance with each show. He plays with energy and adds to the overall dynamic of the band. Last but by no means least we have Scot Riby on the drums. Scot is an amazing drummer, he is both energetic and polished and completes the line up perfectly.After a short break, Such Great Heights took up the gauntlet thrown down by One Night Stands. Such great Heights have gone through each round of this contest with a flair that has been appealing and inspiring.
Again, this young band have a fantastic library of original material that puts a lot of mainstream acts to shame. They describe themselves as a Rock / Powerpop band and they certainly do rock their audience. Of late they have been in several Battle of the Bands one of which they won a cash prize and will be using their winnings to record their first demo on the 31st of this month. Possibly one of the highest accolades for any up and coming band is to be chosen to play at Middlesbrough Music live, Such Great Heights have achieved this and will be appearing on the Homegrown stage at this years festival together with a number of the finest local bands at the moment. Certainly ones to keep an eye on, they are innovative and their music is varied and well received.
Fronting the band is Evelyn, both powerful and haunting, her voice is amazing and she performs each song with conviction and feeling. Evelyn interacts with the other members of the band and this comes across in the unity of the overall performance. We must mention Callum too! Callum is the Bass guitarist in Such Great heights, but he is far from the invisible bassman in the background. Callum announces each song and engages their audience with interesting and entertaining quips and banter. He also provides backing vocals and a rather nifty axe movement during his performance! Alex on the drums is truly amazing! He is positively vibrant in the way he performs with this amazing energy and true showmanship. Finally we have Huddy and Dave on the guitars. These two complete the balance of the group with complimentary guitar solos and a great interaction with Evelyn and Callum during the performance which contributes to the overall class act that is Such Great Heights.
