The 2015 Ipswich Battle Of The Bands line-up would do justice to any street festival in Australia.
The all-killer, no filler roster boasted talent from the Ipswich/ Lockyer area, as far as Brisbane and even a dedicated duo from Hervey Bay.
Nineteen acts each performed a three-song set to a four-person, music industry judging panel which unanimously, but narrowly, awarded rock/ alt/ hardcore/ screamo Brisbane 5-piece Chasing Closure as inaugural winner.
They entertained a demographically diverse audience and demanded a podium position with a sharp and polished performance, full of energy and presence. If judging criteria had included a component for 'X-Factor', they would have picked up points there, too.
IN PICTURES: All the bands and socials
All members looked and played the part, but none more so than lead vocalist Kane Bengsten's ownership of the stage — on and off it.
But he wasn't the first singer to venture into the crowd — The Stray Selection's Kristina Doyle nabbed that honour and started the trend, but in truth frontman/ woman showmanship had been the norm and not the exception all day.
No one put in a bad showing, but a roll call of nods must include — managers and bookers, are you paying attention — the never-easy, first-up showing from Siren — tomorrow's marketable young rockers, held together by a remarkably strong vocalist. Late addition Matthew Clark scored strongly enough with a personable solo, no doubt born of his hard yards busking kilometres.
The Stray Selection
The most-different-from-the-norm rockers, Barefoot Without Shoes, scored well — their rock beats and breakdown style was best summed up by lead Trev Wescott's 'something different' comment after their first song. Their bio claim of being influenced by everyone and sounding like no one is fair.
The wildly fun, punkish and energetic third-placed Secondhand Toothbrush, the super-tight Sound Of Truth, and Brisbane's (almost) all-girl The Stray Selection were all-but inseparable on points.
Kudos to Hervey Bay brother and sister duo SeaNic Sounds for pursuing the dream, the all-high scholl trio Asylum Of Voices, and Jam Sandwich closing out a long day with — really — their first ever gig. You'd never have guessed it.
Secondhand Toothbrush © Tangible Media
The inaugural initiative — all but assured as an annual fixture, and more — is part of a greater effort to reinvigorate the Ipswich Mall precinct. On this showing, they're on track. The event coincided with a record fair and precedes The Kitsch in the Swich in September.
Sound production was excellent, the crowd enthusiastic and the hardest working man on the day was MC Christian Sergeant. Judges comprised Andrew Spark (music and event marketing), Colin Groth (River 94.9), Bud Beckett (musician) and Howard Duggan (scenestr).
© Tangible Media
Judges: (L-R) Andrew Spark, Bud Beckett, Colin Groth and Howard Duggan
