Leicester at Surface Unsigned

Leicester bands do well but fail to win at the final stage

Leicester bands The Heroes and Saine played in the finals of Surface Unsigned but failed to bring home the most coveted prize of overall winner. This year's final was won by London rock/metal band Primitai. Looking at the scores it looks like the Heroes came second, having got the highest judge's score in their group, gaining 16 points from the judges and a total score of 22. Slaine secured 8 points from the judges and total score of 9. An exhausting weekend for our bands, the Heroes also playing at the Dublin Castle on Saturday night.

Leicester bands get through to the final stage.

The Heroes (Leicester) and Slaine (Shepshed) won the finals of the regional level of national competition Surface Unsigned and played in the national finals held at the Millenium Done on 25/26 September.

Two bands from Leicester/shire - indie band The Heroes (city) and classic/metal rock band Slaine (Shepshed, near Loughborough) were selected by judges from a line up of 15 bands from the Midlands region, to play at the national finals in London. Both bands are young, with members ranging from 16 to 19. The regional finals were held at the Carling Academy in Dale End Birmingham, on Saturday 12th September, the last ever live show to be held at the prestigious internationally renown venue, before its closure. Live shows will be transferred the new multi-million pound complex in Horsfair, the O2 Academy.

The Heroes at the Carling Academy (TrippCobain Imaging ).

The SU National Showcase, a two day Festival, will be held at The O2 - IndigO2, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX, on Sat & Sun 26/27 Sept 09

Market Bosworth band Dutch Courage gained the distinction of being the last band ever to play on the main stage, surrounded, one imagines, by the ghosts of bands gone by, such as The Sex Pistols, Foo Fighters and Ocean Colour Scene (not that the latter are dead of course!)

The two local bands will be heading down to the new O2 Academy at London's Millennium Dome to take part in the two day festival featuring winning bands from each of the five English and Welsh regions. One overall winner will be selected from this line up.

The 2nd Stage of the Midlands Surface Unsigned Festival 2009 took place from 5th May to 24th June 2009 at The Rainbow under the Railway Arch, Adderley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4EE and was followed by the semi-finals at the Asylum venue in Hockley.

Leicester bands through to the regional semi-finals

Neon Sarcastic (also got industry vote)
Ictus
Phase 4
Pluto (also got industry vote)
Parish Revolution (also got industry vote)
The Heroes (who also got the industry vote)
Smokestacks
Fiasco
Formal Warning
Slaine

Paris Revolution - Saturday 7th February - they qualified for round 2 and got the industry vote. They play heat 2 on 5th June.

Hotel Zulu - Friday 13th February - they got through to round 2

Neon Sarcastic - Sunday 15th February - they qualified for the next round which they played and they qualified and got the industry vote and now go through to the semi-finals: The Asylum Bar and Venue, 38-43 Hampton Street, Birmingham, B19 3LS 17 July 09 - 9 Aug 09

Ictus - Sunday 15th February - they qualified for the next round - and also qualified in round 2 and now go through to the semi-finals: The Asylum Bar and Venue, 38-43 Hampton Street, Birmingham, B19 3LS 17 July 09 - 9 Aug 09

The Waits - Friday 20th February - qualified for the next round and got the industry vote. They play heat 2 on 27th May.

Breek - Saturday 21st February - failed to qualify for round 2.

Project Notion - Thursday 26th February - qualified for round 2 and got the industry vote. They will play round 2 on 6th May.

Phase 4 - Thursday 12th March - they qualified and got the industry vote. They play heat 2 on 27th May.

The Pennyhangers - Saturday 14th March - failed to play.

Pluto - Friday 20th March - qualified for round 2 on 5th June.

Screaming Eagles - Saturday 21st March - failed to play.

Slaine - Sunday 22nd March - qualified for round 2 and got the industry vote. Their heat 2 is on 20th June.

Smokestacks - Saturday 28th March - qualified for round 2. They play heat 2 on 12th June.

The People Versus - Thursday 2nd April - qualified for round 2 on 23rd May.

The Heroes - Thursday 9th April - qualified for round 2 and got the industry vote. They play round 2 on 9th June.

Mango Mafia - qualified for round 2 and got industry vote. They play heat 2 on 9th June.

All Systems Fail - Friday 10th April. Failed to qualify for heat 2.

M48 - Sunday 12th April - qualified for round 2 and got an industry vote

Formal Warning - Sunday 12th April - qualified for round 2 and got an industry vote and their heat gig is on 16th June.

Skarlett Trip - play round 2 on 9th May.

Tommy's Heroes - play round 2 on 27th May.

See our reviews page for reports on some of the Birmingham gigs.