Godiva Unsigned Semi Finals

Organisers Coventry City Council were inundated as over 200 local artists and bands applied for places in the heats across the city, highlighting the huge amount of unsigned musical talent there is in Coventry.

The judges painstakingly whittled down all the initial entries to a shortlisted 55 successful bands to go on to the heat stages, which took place in some of the best live music venues throughout the city. 

Those competing took part in a dozen heats and showcases at The Kasbah, Taylor John's House, S7ven, The Albany Club and Rosie Malone's, where a panel of independent judges and local music fans voted for their favourite acts.

The winning acts from each heat are now due to battle it out once more in two semi finals, which will take place at The Kasbah on 16 and 23 June, after which the six best bands will take their place in the grand final held in the Rhythm Tent on the opening Friday night at this year's Godiva Festival.

As the thrilling finale reaches its climax, the one overall winner as chosen by the judges, will be given the honour of opening up proceedings on the Godiva Main Stage on Saturday 30 June, giving them the opportunity to play their live set to an audience of thousands.

The bands taking part in the semi finals are:

• Semi final 1: Alex Warburton Band, The Moonshines, This Modern Youth, Dark Actors, Yes Sunshine.
• Semi final 2: The Exports, Symphony State, Flygone, Glassguns, Guilty Skies.

Both semi finals will start at 5pm

Tony Skipper, a member of the Coventry Music Forum who has attended the majority of the heats, said:
"The number of applicants we had for this year's Godiva Unsigned competition once again shows the depth of musical talent that is bubbling under the surface in the city, just waiting to be showcased.

"The standard has been extremely good and the competition very tough. I have seen and rate highly all the semi-finalists. Some of the best local bands such as Shock Parade, Idle Playthings and Just Morale all cut their teeth on the unsigned stages, proving how this competition can be the perfect launch pad for furthering their careers."

The Godiva Festival takes place in The War Memorial Park from 29 June - 1 July, with headline performances from Echo and The Bunnymen and Cast, along with further live sets from The View, The Pigeon Detectives, P Money, Lady Leshurr and Aman Hayer plus lots more.

The festival also offers a huge range of entertainment with arts and craft in the Kids Tent, a celebration of history and heritage in the Lives and Times Tent, a mix of eco friendly groups and demonstrations in the Greenspace Tent, Tommy Wilson's Funfair, micro-acoustic stages, roller rink and much more and it's easy to see why the Godiva Festival attracts so many people each year.

For further details and information about the Godiva Festival itself, please visit http://www.godivafestival.com/

The Godiva Festival is brought to you by Coventry City Council, with support from Jaguar Land Rover and in association with Coventry Telegraph, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, NHS, Free Radio, Touch FM, Kerrang, Careys and Premier Inn.