FRESH: Bands battle for a place at Leeds and Reading Festivals in Futuresound competition

Jun 15 2009 By Katie Campling

A MUSICAL battle is set to break out at The Cockpit in Leeds this month. For the Futuresound competition has come around again and 30 bands are vying for the chance to perform at the Leeds and Reading Festivals in August.

The top five bands will get places. The overall winner will play the Festival Republic Stage, while four runners up will play the BBC Introducing Stage.

When bands appear on the BBC stage, they can often be found steadily climbing up the bill of the larger festival stages in following years.

Leeds has had an unsigned stage for several years with different sponsors.

But it was taken over by the BBC last year – and for the first time was introduced at the Reading site.

In the past, the unsigned stage at Leeds has hosted Huddersfield bands including Mr Shiraz, Eureka Machines and The Scaramanga Six.

The bands taking part in Futuresound have been chosen by a combination of the BBC – through their UK-wide network of Introducing shows and a panel of music experts led by Huw Stephens – plus Sandman magazine and Leeds-based promoters Futuresound.

Now, the artists – mostly from Yorkshire – must take their fight for success to the live stage at The Cockpit.

Ten heats will be held, each with three bands, at the Leeds venue during June and July.