THIS year's Battle of the Bands contest starts this week at Kingsley Theatre.

The 2006 Redditch competition opens on Friday and Saturday with six bands fightings against each other on each night for a place in the second heat.

A panel of judges will pick four bands from each heat to go through to the second stage.

Organised by the BigK community team and Indigo Arts, sponsored by Wharfedale and management and promotions company Factory 5, the contest is hoped to prove as much of a success as last year.

The winner will walk away with Wharfedale monitor speakers and a mixing desk and three SM 58 microphones and a set of drum microphones given by Redditch-based Conserve Guitars.

Factory 5 has also arranged a gig for the four finalists, plus a support spot with one of their professional bands for the winner.

Heat 1 on Friday will feature Plastic Smile, Hidden Exit, Chapter Two, Unwritten Warning, The Sterling and Monroeville, and Heat 2 on Saturday will include Before Your Eyes, Tie-Fighter, Balckthorne Theatre, The Lies in Me, The Conspirators and Page 44.

Tickets for the competition are available from the Kingsley Theatre box office on 830731 or on www.thebigk.org.uk

Advance booking is strongly recommended as there is a huge demand for places.

The BigK community team is also interested in hearing from anyone who would like to be involved in sponsoring the event or being on the judging panel.

Judges must have no connection with Indigo Arts, Kingsley College or any of the bands involved. Call Cathy Moss on 830728.