From jazz to heavy metal
The majority of groups taking part are at the heavy rock end of the musical spectrum. There is nonetheless a wide variety of other types of music represented, including blues, ska and even the occasional jazz, fusion and acoustic band.

For some bands, becoming a local winner is the springboard for an attempt at a national competition. For the truly ambitious, there is even a world final worth $100,000 and the coveted title Best New Band in the World.

First step to fame?
One BoB winning band, the Superheroes, says: ‘From the first heat we took our particular BoB seriously, handing out our demo CDs free, for instance, and winning it was like a green light to put all our energies into our music.’

For bands already with a solid reputation and fan base in their area, BoB success is just as important. Rob, bass guitarist with Idle Jack & the Big Sleep, says winning their particular BoB in York was ‘another step on the road – and thanks to a lot of different people, as we spend a long time on the visual as well as the sound aspects of our show’.

A lasting experience
New battles, new rounds of heats and new venues are under way throughout the year, from the official competitions to informal contests run by secondary schools and village halls.

Strong interest in BoBs is thanks largely to a combination of the growing numbers of young people now taking individual music lessons, the quality of instruments available and, of course, the perennial attraction of being a rock god or goddess for an evening or two.

The spirit of BoB is summed up by Ross, guitarist with an aspiring under-18 rock outfit: ‘Playing in front of over 200 people our age, all showing us they’re having a great time because of the sound we’re making is the greatest feeling.’

Jim
May 2007

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