Next Big Thing finalists revealed

Kairos are one of the finalists in the Next Big Thing

The number of bands competing in this year's prestigious Next Big Thing competition has been slashed after the second of two semi-finals.

Now the full line-up can be revealed for the high-profile final that will see just six bands fight it out on the stage of top venue the UEA.

The three performers who won at Sunday's semi-final at the B2 Brickmakers venue were Console Wars, Sula Mae and Epichunt, and they will join last week's winners Kairos, Alloy Ark and Hair Traffic Control at the final on November 8.

The event, backed by the EDP and now in its sixth year, will see one band win a recording deal, time at Darkness star Dan Hawkins' studio Leeders Farm and a headline slot at UEA - as well as £1,000 cash.

Judging Sunday's final was head of local music label NROne Records Kingsley Harris, who has been involved in the competition for five years.

He said: “The competition is a lot stiffer than last year - it's going to be very, very difficult for the judges to choose a winner.”

Tickets for the final, at UEA on November 8, are available now from the UEA box office on 01603 508050 or from www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk