Young musicians take part in Battle of the Bands

Mar 26 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

Platform for young musicians just rocked

TEN young bands rocked Bathgate last week when this year’s Rock Platform rolled into town.

The Regal Community Theatre was the venue for this year’s competition which saw each band play one cover and one original song.

As well as entertaining a packed and enthusiastic audience, they were competing to win six hours recording time in the Sound Station professional recording and rehearsal studio in Livingston.

The bands taking part were: Illegal Destiny from Whitburn Academy; Sky Pirates from Bathgate Academy; Hotwired Spaghetti of Armadale Academy; Simple Outfit from Deans Community High School; Bitter Actions of Linlithgow Academy; KyoKudo from St Margaret’s Academy; Turn It Sideways of St Kentigern’s Academy; Sound Check from West Calder High School and Just Joking of Inveralmond Community High School.

Last year’s winners West Calder High School’s A Torn Mind, performed while the adjudicators were reaching their decision.

After much deliberation, judges Gordon Balfour and Simon Reid awarded the prize for best original track to KyoKudo from St Margaret’s Academy.

KyoKudo was presented with the prize by executive councillor for education, Andrew Miller.

He said: “I am delighted to be presenting this fantastic prize.

“Though there can only be one winner of Rock Platform I want to congratulate all of the bands for their outstanding performances at this year’s event.

“West Lothian has a well-established reputation for producing talented musicians and your performances tonight show that the future of rock music in West Lothian is in very safe hands.”

The Rock Platform is the opening event of the Spring Concert Series, the annual celebration of music performed by young people taught by West Lothian Council’s Instrumental Music Service in schools across West Lothian.

l The Spring Concert Series continues on Thursday, March 26, at Howden Park Centre in Livingston, on Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29, at St Margaret’s Academy in Livingston.

Tickets for these concerts are £6 or £4 concession available now on 01506 777666.