Slides used by Sarah Westell, Radstock and Westfield Big Local, at the Big Local spring event in Bristol, organised as part of the Local Trust programme of networking and learning events for Big Local residents. The event took place on Wednesday 14 May 2014.

1. Dragons Den Event
14th March 2014

2. Setting up and
networking

3. Our Dragons
The three ‘Dragons’
Becky Brooks, Editor ofThe Journal,
Suzanne Norbury, from the Somerset
Guardian, and
Anna Parry, fromThe Loft, in
Radstock,

4. Radstock 1st
Scout group
Tent

5. Westfield
Ladies choir
Music sheets

6. The
Community
Bus
Easter Play
Scheme

7. SulisScorpians
Cycle training
for young
people

8. TheTime Bomb
Compère for the evening was Dom
Chambers, from SomerValley FM

9. 90 second pitch

10. The
Boom
Stage
Young people
wanting a
music event

11. Play 8 - 80
Lady birdy joined
us for Kirsten
Lane’s bid for
funding to create
a new web site.

12. Voting
All residents
able to vote
and had to vote
for the best 5
projects

13. Presentations
for the
successful
applicants
Robin Moss ~ Chair of the Steering
group
Dom Chambers ~ Compère

14. Certificate
The Boom Stage crew

15. Successful
applicants

16. WithGrateful
Thanks
The three ‘Dragons’
Becky Brooks, Editor ofThe Journal,
Suzanne Norbury, from the
Somerset Guardian, and
Anna Parry, fromThe Loft, in
Radstock,
Compère for the evening was Dom
Chambers, from SomerValley FM

19. The
“Battle of the
Bands”
Battle of the Bands 2014
Victoria Hall, Radstock
Friday, April 25th
2014
The inaugural Battle of the Bands took place at Victoria Hall in Radstock on Friday, April 25th
thanks to the generous backing of the Westfield and Radstock Big Local and the Radstock
Youth Partnership. Four bands and performers took part with a fantastically high standard
throughout the evening.
Local residents showed great support for the event which was put together to give the
winning band a place at Peasedown St. John’s annual Party in the Park, a place at Bath’s
Party in the City and a £100 cash prize.
The standard was set immediately with a superb set by The Wranglers who brought their
brilliantly crafted songs to the appreciating crowd who had begun to relax into the evening.
Too Much Lipstick were up next and they entered with a high energy performance of their
increasingly popular “It’s Got Me” single. Big things are expected from the five piece from
Bath and they didn’t disappoint.
Following that there was a change of pace as local acoustic act Arthur Hannan’s soulful
vocals and creative mixing of classic songs send chills through the room.
The final band, Rivers of England, returning to Victoria Hall after playing at the opening
night, closed the evening with their own blend of modern folk and won the judges over
enough to win the competition.
Rivers of England will now appear at Bath’s Party in the City on May 16th and at Peasedown
Party in the Park on June 14th at Beacon Field in Peasedown.
I would like to place on record my thanks to the Big Local and to Radstock Youth Partnership
for their support for Battle of the Bands – we were able to bring some of the best local
talent around to Victoria Hall and showcase how the venue can be an integral point of a new
music scene in the area.
I would also like to thank HL Audio for an absolutely superb service with the PA system,
Somer Valley FM for their promotion of the event, Enlightened Lighting for their lights and a
number of key individuals who were integral in making this night happen – Martha Brothers,
George and Sue Hill, Emma Shoosmith, Simon Allen, Caroline Green, Dom Chambers, Luke
Barnes, Isha and Jeremy Harris, Ben Curd and Phil Fairington.