Bands battle it out for Festival spot

There was everything to play for when bands took to the stage for a fantastic musical contest in King’s Lynn.

The Battle of the Bands features young musicians from three secondary schools within the West Norfolk Academies Trust, and judges had a tough job to choose the winner with genres from heavy metal to pop.

But The Gliders from Springwood High School’s Year 8 took the winning spot which means they will perform during the popular Festival Too Lazy Sunday event on June 30 at King's Staithe Square in King’s Lynn.

All  seven bands taking part, from Smithdon High School, Hunstanton, Marshland High School in West Walton and Springwood, have been invited to perform at the West Norfolk Academy Trust summer music festival in July.

“We had a range of performers from Year 7 through to Year 13 and they all did incredibly well. It was a first gig for some of the performers and others were more experienced, but each of them should be proud of themselves,” said Peter Cuss, Head of Arts.

The Gliders took part in the contest last year, which was not restricted to WNAT schools,  and won praise for their set which was well-supported.

And this year they returned to the contest to emerge victorious after performing Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns n’ Roses.

There was more than a hint of rock as the Midnight Investment Bankers, from Marshland High School, performed Black Sabbath’s War Pig. The Whispers, also from Marshland, played their first ever gig and The Unknown, from Smithdon, were also highlighted for excellent performances.

And the staff weren’t missing out, as they formed a band of their own which included Trust CEO and Springwood Head Andy Johnson on the drums. Members of the staff band also supported the students taking part.