Feature article: Leicester at the Surface Unsigned festival 2010

Leicester won three out of four places at the Regional Finals of Surface Unsigned. Charlie and the Martyrs (Leicester), Axis Mundi (Hinckley) and the Great Imitation (Melton Mowbray) will head off to the Milennium Dome on 25th September for the national finals.

The four bands played today in a line-up of 16 Midlands bands that had a won places in the regional finals that took place on the main stage of the O2 Academy in Birmingham. The fourth band, Dirty Voice, were from Banbury in Oxfordshire.

Coachloads of jubilant Leicester fans headed home tonight having seen their favourite bands get through a tough line up of the best live music in the region.

Sadly, the other Leicester band to play at the O2, Formal Warning, failed to attract enough votes from the judges. Fans said they had put on a stormingly good set but unfortunately they failed to win enough marks from the judges. Putting four bands through from the same city - that would have taken some balls!

James and Ryan on stage with the band as the Great Imitation

Charlie and the Martyrs on the main stage of the O2 Academy

Axis Mundi take their amazing act on stage

Reviews to follow soon.

Leicester bands have done well in the competition for the past two years; see our coverage of Leicester at Surface Unsigned 2009.

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