Feature: The Original Bands Showcase 2012

This page is part of the music section

The Original Bands Showcase (a.k.a The OBS) is Leicester's foremost series of gigs to bring up and coming bands to the attention of the public and media.

Reviews of each of the OBS Bands gigs are published on our OBS section.

On this page: Dates of shows | Background to the OBS | Previous winners of the OBS |

Latest news

15th April

The stage is now set for the semi-finals

The first round heats have been completed and so now everything is set for the semis that will be held on 28th April and 4th May. That will lead up to the grand final on 19th May.

On the bill for the 28th April will be Anteloids, The Furies, Feedback Voice, New Town Image, The Decade Runners.

On 4th May the line-up will be Linear, Glassfoot, Raptusound, The Incidents, and Midnight Wire.

Now that lot will give the judges something to think about.

February 18th

Val McCoy says, on her Facebook page: ' The Original Bands Showcase is set up for unsigned bands and artists of all genres. This independent music event takes place annually in Leicester. The first OBS was back in 2004.

The aim is to give a platform for local live bands and an opportunity to increase exposure and fanbase under the umbrella of a series of organised well supported nights of live music. It has now become an established credible event on the live music calender

Working closely with local businesses and live music venues, it offers a nice package of prizes for the finalists and more which include two slots at the Summer Sundae Weekender (which has previously been voted the best small festival in the UK) for the winner and The Musicians choice. Slots at Strawberry Fields Festival (emerging as our newest local quality festival fast gaining national recognition for excellence) for the winner and SFF choice as well as support headline slot for the winner and festival opening slot for this years runner up at the established Leicester Riverside Festival.

Against the somewhat murky reputation of Battle of the Bands this showcase has gained a reputation that sets it apart and actually delivers what it promises

The search begins soon for OBS 2012 which will involve 35+ Midland bandsand a prize package of Summer Sundae Weekender on The Musician Stage, Strawberry Fields and Riverside Festival slots , s recording Package, £600 cash fund, 50 Band Merchandise T Shirts plus more t.b.a.

All this years shows will be staged at The Musician, Leicester's finest independent music venue.

If you like to go to live music nights but are disillusioned with hit and miss line ups and lack of organisation, you need to be OBS'd. Add yourself to the Facebook Group and get all the news as well as the chance to tell us who you think should be involved next year. Looking for bands from the Midlands area only. Please join the group and make contact '

More information from the OBS Facebook page

Val later added: The prestigious Yellow Bean Studios wiIl offer to the winners of the OBS 2012, a weekend recording package, consisting of two days recording to include engineer, production, mixing and mastering. In addition they will offer a three hour recorded rehearsal session, in a fully acoustic conditioned studio, to the runners up. There will also be a professional photoshoot courtesy of Senior Photography.

See our article on Yellow Bean Studios .

Dates for OBS shows in 2012

The OBS gigs will all take place at the Musician pub, from Friday 9th March, through to the grand final on Saturday 19th May.

Background

The Original Bands Showcase is set up for unsigned Bands and Artists of all genres. This independent music event takes place annually in Leicester. The first OBS was back in 2004. It's main aim is to give a platform for local live bands and an opportunity to increase exposure and fanbase under the umbrella of a series of organised well supported nights of live music It has now become an established credible event on the live music calender.

Previous winners

Previous winners of the Original Bands Showcase:

The Jack Kenworthy Trio, 2011

The James Lewis Band, 2010

The Heroes, 2009

M48, 2008

The Chairmen, 2007

Proud to have met you, 2006

The Dirty BackBeats, 2004

Other pages you might like:

Our feature article on the OBS showcase gigs

Our article on the 2011 OBS

OBS in 2010

OBS in 2009