Denbighshire Schools Battle Of The Bands 2016

Organised by Denbighshire Education and Children’s Services in conjunction with Grŵp Cynefin Housing Association, Denbigh and Coleg Llandrillo, Denbigh, this year’s exciting Denbighshire Schools’ Battle of the Bands 2016 took place at Theatr Twm o’r Nant, Denbigh, on Friday 18 March 2016, with eight finalists competing against each other. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Compered by Elliott Jones, a student at Ysgol Dinas Brân, Llangollen and judged by a panel featuring Andrew Welsh, a multi-talented musician, actor and presenter on Tudno FM 107.8, Bethan Mascarenhas, a professional theatre practitioner and singer, based in North Wales, Elin Davies, Denbighshire’s Learner Voice Champion and Johnathan White, manager of Prestatyn Pop-In-Centre, Denbighshire Schools’ Battle of the Bands 2016 saw 8 acts go head to head to compete for the crown of Denbighshire Schools’ Battle of the Bands 2016 Overall Winners with recording studio time, radio airplay, a slot’s on one of the stages at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod on Children’s Day (Wednesday 6th July 2016) and a slot at this year’s Llanfest over the festival weekend in July 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The eight artists were: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Erin Davies, solo artist from Denbigh High School;
• The Glee Club, musical group from Rhyl High School, featuring Kayleigh Nixon; Anya Tierney, Beth Hudson, Demi Nock, Charlie Wood and Ellis Wilkinson;
• Magi Davies, solo artist/guitarist from Denbigh High School;
• Stepping Stones, pop vocalists from Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen, featuring Willow Hicks and Beth Kelbrick;
• Bethan Davies, solo artist from Denbigh High School;
• Soak, a rock duo from Ysgol Dinas Brân, Llangollen, featuring Connor Phillips on drums and Andrew Melville on guitar;
• Di-Enw, a 4 piece rock band from Ysgol Glan Clwyd, featuring Cari Miles, Catrin Lawson, Catrin Jones, Brannon Liston-Smith;
• This Way Down, a 5 piece rock band from Ysgol Dinas Brân, Llangollen, featuring Connor Phillips, Tomos Morris, Ieuan Fowler, Jake Evans and Wil Edwards.

The eight acts provided a rich diversity of the different genres of music including pop, rock and folk. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Prize-winners ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Best Secondary Act 2016 – Di-Enw, Ysgol Glan Clwyd
• Best Group 2016 – Soak, Ysgol Dinas Brân, Llangollen
• People’s Choice – This Way Down, Ysgol Dinas Brân, Llangollen
• Overall Winners – This Way Down, Ysgol Dinas Brân, Llangollen

With eight of Denbighshire Schools’ finest artists and bands, it was truly a night to remember. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​