Rock Platform

Mar 25 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

TEN young rock bands played in front of a packed house at Bathgate’s Regal Community Theatre.

The Rock Platform saw musicians from across West Lothian perform one cover version and one original song at the sell-out show.

They were competing to win £150 of music equipment for their school, a photo shoot for the band and the opportunity to perform in the Bathgate Music Festival.

The bands competing were: Paradox from Armadale Academy, Flip Banshee from Bathgate Academy, Streetlight and G17 from Broxburn Academy, Sultan of ShaWing from Linlithgow Academy, Electrolite and Ninth Aspect from St Kentigern's Academy, Fred Astaire's Boots from West Calder High School, Murder on the Airwaves from Whitburn Academy and Eggz from Deans Community High School.

Last year's winners KyoKudo performed while the adjudicators were reaching their decision.

And after much deliberation, judges Stuart McHugh and Joe Turnbull awarded the prize for best original track to Flip Banshee from Bathgate Academy.

Stuart McHugh, editor of 'Is this Music' (Independent music magazine for Scotland), said: “It was a great event, an excellent exhibition of the best bands in West Lothian that showed there is some really good local talent coming through in the area.

“Judges always wheel out the old ‘it was a really tough decision’ but it genuinely was, any of the top three could have won, and each of the 10 acts we saw had some positives we could pick up on in our comments and certainly features that they can build on in their future careers if they continue in music and, hopefully, they all will.”

Executive councillor for education, Andrew Miller, said he was impressed with the standard of the local bands.

He said: “I always look forward to Rock Platform each year.

“It gives us a chance to showcase, acknowledge and reward young people who clearly put a lot of effort into their music. Well done to all who took part and congratulations to the worthy winners.”

The Rock Platform event is the opening concert of six that make up 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.

The Spring Concert Series continues on March 25 to 28, at Inveralmond Community High School, Livingston. Tickets for these concerts are £6 or £4 concession available now on 01506 777666.