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The bands from across Coventry and Warwickshire earned the right to perform on the opening Friday (13 July) of the festival by winning tough heats in a battle-of-the-bands style competition.

Little Girl Screaming

The rain may have poured, but the event got off to a flyer, with the Spotlight Tent in Coventry’s War Memorial Park coming to life with some belting music.

Little Girl Screaming, a former ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Coventry & Warwickshire band of the month, had the honour of opening up the three-day festival and delighted those gathered with their usual menace, aided by the odd belly-dancer or two.

Raff from the Crooks was in fine form, as indeed were the rest of the Coventry band. And they clearly revelled in performing at their home city’s mammoth free event.

Spinning discs, an electric violin, guitars, drums and a whole set of top songs – Jamsons Nook brought their unique blend of talent to the masses in the Spotlight Tent at Godiva. Like LGS, they too are a former ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Coventry & Warwickshire band of the month.

The Carter Manouevre signed off for the summer with a set that, by their own admission, gave them the hunger to keep on gigging. But a decision had already been made and instead of more live sets the band are going to concentrate on recording their music.

Men in Caves bounced through their set, with the trio serving up some frenetic ditties that were well received by the crowd. No wonder we chose them to be band of the month earlier this year.

The Hearing let their music do the talking with their predominantly instrumental set that offered something a lot different to the other seven bands.

The reaction to DbMA was phenomenal, and it's clear to see why they're one of the most popular bands on the local scene with their organs, guitars, and charismatic frontman.

Rounding off the evening were Sun, Zoom, Spark, winner of G Factor. And they were intent on partying through the night and into the following day when they played in the Electric Tent, on the same bill as some band called The Enemy ... No, we've never heard of them either!