The final for this year's Battle of the Bands has been CANCELLED.
Apologies for any disappointment or inconvenience caused.
Apologies for any disappointment or inconvenience caused.

The Top 12 (2020) | |
File Size: | 477 kb |
File Type: |
The standard of performance and song-writing for this year's auditions for Battle of the Bands 2020 was sky-high. Deciding which bands proceed to the final was incredibly difficult.
Thank you and well done to everyone involved in this year's Battle journey so far. Thank you for taking the time write your own songs, get together to rehearse and, in some cases, design and make your own band t-shirts and percussion instruments!
(The Phoenixes Y3, The Founders Y3 and MR DAFT Y5).
Every band received feedback from Miss Rusbatch immediately after their audition. The feedback included positive praise and recognition of the hard work and creative talent in the band, and highlighted specific strengths of the song and individual performances. Miss Rusbatch also shared constructive feedback and suggested ways in which the song and/or the performance could be improved.
It is always hugely encouraging to see the same children return each year with more confidence, greater performance skills and with songs with improved arrangements, structure and, sometimes, vocal harmonies. Miss Rusbatch is inspired by the resilience, determination and creative development of these children.
This year's finalists will receive information about the final from Miss Rusbatch next week. This year's Top 12 bands, who will be performing in the final on Tuesday 24th March, are (in no particular order):
Thank you and well done to everyone involved in this year's Battle journey so far. Thank you for taking the time write your own songs, get together to rehearse and, in some cases, design and make your own band t-shirts and percussion instruments!
(The Phoenixes Y3, The Founders Y3 and MR DAFT Y5).
Every band received feedback from Miss Rusbatch immediately after their audition. The feedback included positive praise and recognition of the hard work and creative talent in the band, and highlighted specific strengths of the song and individual performances. Miss Rusbatch also shared constructive feedback and suggested ways in which the song and/or the performance could be improved.
It is always hugely encouraging to see the same children return each year with more confidence, greater performance skills and with songs with improved arrangements, structure and, sometimes, vocal harmonies. Miss Rusbatch is inspired by the resilience, determination and creative development of these children.
This year's finalists will receive information about the final from Miss Rusbatch next week. This year's Top 12 bands, who will be performing in the final on Tuesday 24th March, are (in no particular order):
Blue Melody (6T)
Five Friends (6J) Explosive (6S) Sleepless Night (6B/6T) |
Pineapple (6S)
S.E.T. List (6J/6B) [Insert Text Here] (6T) Affect (5M) |
Detention Kids (5BR)
The Hazels (6B/6S) Duet Duet (5H) The ECOs (4K/4MC/6B) |
TUESDAY 3rd MARCH 2020
That's it. Auditions for this year's Battle of the Bands are DONE. Phew !
The standard of song-writing and performance has been consistently high this year. Thank you to each and every band member and manager. Thank you also to the families involved for supporting rehearsal opportunities and, in some cases, for designing and creating t-shirts and homemade instruments: Fiveways is brimming with innovative and creative minds !
The top 12 will be revealed tomorrow (Wednesday). The top 12 bands have demonstrated evidence of rehearsal, cohesiveness, confidence, good song structure with varied musical content. accurate vocal pitch, harmonies, interesting arrangements and catchy rhythms.
The standard of song-writing and performance has been consistently high this year. Thank you to each and every band member and manager. Thank you also to the families involved for supporting rehearsal opportunities and, in some cases, for designing and creating t-shirts and homemade instruments: Fiveways is brimming with innovative and creative minds !
The top 12 will be revealed tomorrow (Wednesday). The top 12 bands have demonstrated evidence of rehearsal, cohesiveness, confidence, good song structure with varied musical content. accurate vocal pitch, harmonies, interesting arrangements and catchy rhythms.
Marko, Ripley, Dillon, Alex, Felix and Tom (MR DAFT) in Y5
MONDAY 2nd MARCH 2020
AUDITIONS UPDATE (Monday 2nd March 2020)
Well done to the bands who have already auditioned.
An updated list of auditions for Tuesday 3rd March can be viewed here, and downloaded below: ![]()
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09:10 – 09:20 Five Friends - 6J
09:20 – 09:30 S.E.T. List - 6J / 6B 09:30 – 09:40 Help Them - 6B 09:40 – 09:50 Sisterellas - 6S / 3W 09:50 – 10:00 The Aliens from Jupiter – 6S 10:00 – 10:10 ICEON – 6S / 5F / 3P 10:10 – 10:20 Explosive – 6S 10:20 – 10:30 The Unwanted – 6S / 6B 10:30 – 10:40 The ECOs – 4K / 4MC / 6B |
10:50 - 11:00 The Hazels – 6B / 6S
11:00 – 11:10 Pineapple – 6S 11:10 – 11:20 The Hollow Triangle – 6T 11:20 – 11:30 Blue Melody – 6T 11:30 – 11:40 Squid Squad – 6T 11:40 – 11:50 Insert Text Here – 6T 11:50 – 12:00 Original Two – 6T 12:00 – 12:10 Sleepless Night – 6B / 6T |
13:20 – 13:30 The Lost and Found – 6T
13:30 – 13:40 Where’s the WiFi? – 5H 13:40 – 13:50 Detention Kids – 5BR 13:50 – 14:00 Girls Vs Boys – 5BR 14:00 – 14:10 Coco Cousins – 5BR / 5F 14:10 – 14:20 MR DAFT – 5F 14:20 – 14:30 One World – 5F 14:30 – 14:40 Infinity Stars – 5F 14:40 – 14:50 War Wolves – 5H 14:50 – 15:00 Sun & Moon – 5H 15:00 – 15:10 The Girls of the World – 4A / 4K |
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Auditions take place in the main music room. Each band will set up the room arrangement to suit their requirements, tune their instruments and perform their song once. Miss Rusbatch is the only other person in the room throughout this process. During the performance of each song, she will be making notes and also write down an overall score out of 10.
Judgements of songs and performances during the audition are based upon:
Musicianship, instrumental ability, team work, lyrical content, vocal harmonies, song structure, musical texture, varied dynamics, level of enjoyment and engagement, evidence of rehearsal, confidence, ability to evoke emotion etc.
Immediately after the audition, Miss Rusbatch will provide the band with verbal constructive feedback and highlight the strengths of each band. The score out of 10 will not be revealed at this stage.
The top 12 finalists will be announced on Wednesday 4th March.
Judgements of songs and performances during the audition are based upon:
Musicianship, instrumental ability, team work, lyrical content, vocal harmonies, song structure, musical texture, varied dynamics, level of enjoyment and engagement, evidence of rehearsal, confidence, ability to evoke emotion etc.
Immediately after the audition, Miss Rusbatch will provide the band with verbal constructive feedback and highlight the strengths of each band. The score out of 10 will not be revealed at this stage.
The top 12 finalists will be announced on Wednesday 4th March.
MONDAY 2nd MARCH 20201. 09:10 – 09:20 - Duet Duet – 5H
2. 09:20 – 09:30 - C.C.C. Stars – 5M / 5BR 3. 09:30 – 09:40 - ILL – 5M / 3W 4. 09:40 – 09:50 - 2 Cool 4 School – 5M 5. 09:50 – 10:00 - Affect – 5M / 5F 6. 10:00 – 10:10 - Brain Freeze – 5M / 3W 7. 10:10 – 10:20 - M.R.C. – 5M 8. 10:20 – 10:30 - F.C.D. – 5M 9. 10:50 – 11:00 - The Verdict – 5M 10. 11:00 – 11:10 - The Eagles – 4A / 4K 11. 11:10 – 11:20 - The Girls of the World – 4A / 4K 12. 11:20 – 11:30 - The Eco’s – 4K / 4MC / 6B 13. 11:30 – 11:40 - Crazy Creatures – 3DP 14. 11:40 – 11:50 - The Dreamers – 3DP / 3W 15. 11:50 – 12:00 - Hot Dogs – 3DP / 3PY 16. 12:00 – 12:10 - The Phoenixes – 3PY 17. 13:20 – 13:30 - 4 Stars – 3PY / 3DP / 3W 18. 13:30 – 13:40 - SJTCE – 3PY / 3W 19. 13:40 – 13:50 - Founders – 3PY 20. 13:50 – 14:00 - Sticky Fingers – 3PY 21. 14:00 – 14:10 - Fire Girls – 3P 22. 14:10 – 14:20 - Nowhere Space – 3P 23. 14:20 – 14:30 - TNG – 3P 24. 14:30 – 14:40 - M.M.I. – 3W 25. 14:40 – 14:50 - The Edge Chronicles – 3W |
TUESDAY 3rd MARCH 20201. 09:10 – 09:20 - Five Friends - 6J
2. 09:20 – 09:30 - S.E.T. List - 6J / 6B 3. 09:30 – 09:40 - Help Them - 6B 4. 09:40 – 09:50 - Sisterellas - 6S / 3W 5. 09:50 – 10:00 - The Aliens from Jupiter – 6S 6. 10:00 – 10:10 - ICEON – 6S / 5F / 3P 7. 10:10 – 10:20 - Explosive – 6S 8. 10:20 – 10:30 - The Unwanted – 6S / 6B 9. 10:50 – 11:00 - The Hazels – 6B / 6S 10. 11:00 – 11:10 - Pineapple – 6S 11. 11:10 – 11:20 - The Hollow Triangle – 6T 12. 11:20 – 11:30 - Blue Melody – 6T 13. 11:30 – 11:40 - Squid Squad – 6T 14. 11:40 – 11:50 - Insert Text Here – 6T 15. 11:50 – 12:00 - Original Two – 6T 16. 12:00 – 12:10 - Sleepless Night – 6B / 6T 17. 13:20 – 13:30 - The Lost and Found – 6T 18. 13:30 – 13:40 - Ragnarok – 5BR 19. 13:40 – 13:50 - Detention Kids – 5BR 20. 13:50 – 14:00 - Girls Vs Boys – 5BR 21. 14:00 – 14:10 - Coco Cousins – 5BR / 5F 22. 14:10 – 14:20 - MR DAFT – 5F 23. 14:20 – 14:30 - One World – 5F 24. 14:30 – 14:40 - Infinity Stars – 5F 25. 14:40 – 14:50 - War Wolves – 5H 26. 14:50 – 15:00 - Sun & Moon – 5H 27. 15:00 – 15:10 - Where’s the Wi-Fi? – 5H |
Lunchtime Rehearsal Slots
12:30 - 13:00
MONDAY = YEAR 4
TUESDAY = YEAR 6
WEDNESDAY = YEAR 5
THURSDAY = YEAR 3
MONDAY = YEAR 4
TUESDAY = YEAR 6
WEDNESDAY = YEAR 5
THURSDAY = YEAR 3
Children are welcome to meet in the music room to rehearse during their allocated slot above. If a band consists of children from multiple year groups, chat to Miss Rusbatch to arrange a weekly rehearsal slot that is convenient for all members.
ENTRY DEADLINE - Friday 31st January
Download the entry form here: |
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RULES
- Band Members: minimum of 2 – no maximum number (from any year group and class). A child may be in more than one band, but this isn't recommended by Miss Rusbatch.
- Band Manager: responsible for overseeing the Band’s name, look, staging, song choice, projections, promotion and marketing. The band manager can also perform as part of the band.
- Song choice: Any genre and any combination of instruments and/or voice will be permitted. Bands can perform a cover, medley or a ‘mash-up’. Bands will receive bonus points for own compositions (if they’re good quality). Bands may also perform pieces that are entirely instrumental (not involving any vocal performance).
- Bands cannot use any form of pre-recorded music e.g. backing tracks or karaoke tracks.
- Song duration cannot be more than 5 minutes.
- Judges: Music Industry Professionals
- Prizes for the winning band: 1) perform a concert at Downs Infant School, 2) names placed on the Battle of the Bands trophy, 3) organise own concert as part of the Downs Junior School Summer Fair in July 2020
- Entry deadline is Friday 31st January 2020 at 15:30. One entry form, per band.
- Auditions: 2nd – 3rd March 2020.
- Top 12 Finalists announced 4th March 2020.
- Final Battle on Tuesday 24th March 2020 (18:00-19:30) featuring the top 12 bands.
- Tickets for the final will be booked online by families of the finalists from 6th March 2020.