YOUNG Island band Skyline Heroes has hit the heights after securing the opening slot on the final day of the Nokia IW Festival by winning the final of the Medina Battle of the Bands competition.

 

The talented four-piece will be rubbing shoulders with Coldplay, Richard Ashcroft and Lou Reed at Seaclose, Newport, on Sunday, June 11.

 

After performing to a sell-out crowd of about 350 at the Medina Theatre last Friday, the combo will feel more at home when they play to the massive festival crowd.

 

Pop-punk influenced Skyline Heroes, which comprises 17-year-old high school students Danny Knox, of Cowes (drums), Lucas Hardy, Medina, and Ben Gourlay, Carisbrooke (guitar and vocals); and Sam Grieve, 20, (bass guitar), beat off tough competition from 21 other young Island acts to win their place at Britain's biggest rock festival this summer.

 

Danny, of Place Road, Cowes, said: "It's easily the biggest thing that's ever happened in our lives. We're pretty ecstatic and really looking forward to it but none of it will really sink in until about a week before we play. It's bizarre.

 

"It was a wicked night. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to perform and to win was a big bonus. I'm pleased for the organisers. The whole thing paid off big time."

 

The enthusiastic and athletic four-piece, which composes its own material, performed the songs Down and Out, Disco Song, Green Go Forever and Sick of Endings, to rapturous applause and cheers.

 

"We will be making the most of our time between now and the festival — rehearsing and writing. We hope to try out some new tunes at the festival," said Danny, who also performed a solo acoustic set as a separate act.

 

Five-piece sensations Los Fantasmas, made up of Carisbrooke High students, and Medina High's Heterodox, cheered on by a vociferous 'home' crowd, were runners-up and also secured slots on the festival's second stage.

 

The promising Los Fantasmas, with their Mexican-tinged acoustic sound, put in a polished performance. And Heterodox worked the crowd well with their all-action set and raised the roof with the biggest round of applause.

 

Other performers included Echo Ridge, Dawnwalk, Air Pressure and So Fades the Glory. The judging panel included DJ Ian Mack, of IW Radio, who promised Skyline Heroes he would play their recordings in the run-up to the festival.

 

Organiser and Medina High School student Chloe Halstead, 17, said the event was a huge success, the bands were professional and the crowd were supportive of all acts.

 

"It was so much better than we could ever envisage and hope to set up future projects," said Chloe.

 

http://www.iwcp.co.uk

some lucky people!!

Did anybody see these guys? What did you think? :)

They werent very good imo. Not a very good stage presence....but in a few years and with more experience I guess they might be better. but not really my cup of tea...sounded like all the rest of the shouty indie kind of bands.

Im sorry if you know them or something!!! :embarassed:

no i only just caught the end of them & wondered what i'd missed