First bands through to final of Next Big Thing

Musicians fought it out on stage for their shot at the spotlight as part of a hotly-competed regional talent search.

This year's EDP-backed Next Big Thing competition kicked off with the first of two semi-finals at Norwich's B2 venue.

Three bands went home victorious, winning a place in the final at the UEA, after impressing a panel of five judges drawn from the local music industry.

The winners of Sunday's showdown were Kairos, Alloy Ark and Hair Traffic Control. The other three bands performing on the night were Fever Fever, NDX and Neme.

The competition is organised by Future Radio. station manager Tom Buckham said: 'All the bands were really good at what they did - it's just a few band edged it.

'It's a better showing than last year and the feedback has been really good. They key is having good tunes and letting them shine through on stage.'

The second semi-final on Sunday, also at B2, will feature performances from Sula Mae, Console Wars, Epichunt, Darwin and the Dinosaur, Falcon Burns, Cakes & Ale.

Then the six finalists will fight it out at the UEA on November 8 in front of celebrity judges including Radio One's Greg James, with the overall winners taking home a recording deal time at Darkness star Dan Hawkins' studio, Leeders Farm, as �1,000 in cash.

Next Big Thing semi finalists on the Future Radio websiteAll entries to the 2009 Next Big Thing on the Future Radio website