The Futuresound Competition, in which the winning acts earn themselves a slot at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival, has announced its winners. Forty bands battled it out at The Wardrobe over the last month, with the main winner given the opportunity to open the Festival Republic Stage. Five runners up also gain a place on the BBC Introducing Stage.

The overall winners of the competition were Calls Landing. The band from Leeds will be bringing their alternative-rock anthems to the Festival Republic Stage. Their debut album Heirlooms was released in May and features single ‘Belgium’.

The first of the runners up is Happy Daggers. Also based in Leeds, the band have recorded a series of singles and EPs over the last couple of years and now their “rock ‘n’ soul” sound will be gracing the BBC Introducing Stage.

Following their large run of live dates in August, Narcs will be playing Reading & Leeds. Their 2013 album Two Birds, One Stone Later showcases energetic alternative-rock tracks.

Samuel S. Parkes will be no stranger to BBC Introducing, having previously been played by the BBC Introducing section of BBC Radio Leeds. With his EP Night Owl, Samuel and his band will be bringing Northern Soul to the festival.

Bringing riff-heavy rock to Reading & Leeds will be Treason Kings. Not only have they played Kendal Calling, but they also can call themselves Alan Raw’s “new favourite band”.

The final band to be playing the BBC Introducing Stage is Where Fires Are. Their latest single ‘Vultures’ follows a collection of releases from the alternative rock band. Along with the other winners, their Leeds roots will make a slot at the festival even more special.

The bands will be joining a line up featuring the likes of Metallica, The Libertines and Mumford & Sons. Tickets for Leeds Festival can be bought here.

 

Catherine Dowie