The winners of the Shropshire Star’s Battle of the Bands competition have collected prizes worth more than £5,000 from sponsors at Salop Music Centre.

Bands descended on the music shop, in St Michael’s Street, Shrewsbury, on Saturday, to collect their prizes.

Salop Music Centre boss Rob Mulliner had secured expensive kit from instrument manufacturers and providers of special effects.

“We are grateful to all of the companies who supported Battle of the Bands,” said Mr Mulliner.

“It was an exceptional competition and gave unsigned talent a chance to reach a new audience.”

The winning band was Small Time Crooks, from Oswestry.

Fight The Bear, from Bishop’s Castle, was another big winner. Three more bands – Enter/Exit, Madison and Dezima – also received equipment from Salop Music Centre.

Gair Davies, from Soundscape Studios, said: “The bands in the final were deserving of their place and we wish them well in the future.”

Andrea Proffitt, organiser of the Indieco Festival, at The Quarry, Shrewsbury, said: “There was a lot of passion and energy at the Battle of the Bands final. All the bands were great.

“We’re really looking forward to Fight The Bear opening our festival.”

Kevin Horack, of Wolf At Your Door records, said: “It was tough to pick a winner, but Small Time Crooks were the complete package. They had a lot going for them.”

The Shropshire Star Battle of the Bands attracted 47 entries from artists across the newspaper’s circulation area.

More than 2,000 readers voted for their favourites in an online poll and a packed house watched bands battle it out at The Buttermarket, in Shrewsbury.

Telford FM and Severn FM promoted the event and DJ Paul Shuttleworth, who compared the final, has featured participants on his shows.

Battle of the Bands spokesman James Shaw added: “Congratulations go to everyone who took part. We hope to hear more from these bands and trust their prizes will be put to good use.”

The Battle of the Bands took place at the Buttermarket in Shrewsbury on March 30 and people from across the county turned out to support the acts.

What they won:

• Small Time Crooks won a Wharfedale pro PA system, Roland TD6KX V-drum kit and three Shure SM58 microphones. They also won 100 CDs and mentoring advice from Wolf At Your Door Records, a half day at Soundscape Studios and a photoshoot with the Shropshire Star.
• Fight The Bear won a Blackstar HT Boost and Blackstar HT Dual. They also won the opening slot at the Indieco one-day indie music festival at The Quarry, in Shrewsbury, in July. Drummer Duncan Burns won the £100 Rob James Award for best performer.
• Dezima won an A Hartke HA3500 & 410TP Stack and Blackstar HT Distto.
• Enter/Exit won a Blackstar HT Drive.
• Madison won a Blackstar HT Distx.

By Andy Richardson