venues

About Unified Sounds...

Unified Sounds was set up by The Rock Matrix and its supporters to act on localised opportunities which are regularly presented. It seemed essential to build a team of people that handled just the geographic area they worked within.

The coming together of businesses and bands with a vested interest in music of an alternative nature, as well as live and recorded music, could blossom and create a heavy weight to help negotiate bigger and better things whilst creating the best deals for everyone concerned. The coordinated approach has already seen many people come to the fold.

After a number of band consultancy sessions and meetings, it was considered that there was a collective mentality which felt under valued and that the ‘scene’ was at low-ebb and could be revived with vigor and would respond to a focused season of events, thus Band Quest ’09 was born along with all its associated activity it could bring...

Introducing Band Quest 2009...

If you were familiar with the DarBex competition of 2008, then you only need to think of Band Quest as a grander version of that – think enormous!

A battle of the bands contest with more venues, more prizes and more opportunities than ever before, and we expect it to get even bigger as the quest draws closer. Whether you’re a thrash metal band, a solo acoustic act, or a music lover, the boundaries for enjoyment and opportunities have almost disappeared completely.

It’s cheaper for the audience, more rewarding and beneficial for the artists - widening not only the promotional avenues but the depth and longevity of them too. It’s also the biggest networking and profiling event opportunity for ANY band to play locally. Its quite simply got more of everything people want!

How It Works

There are 108 slots (27 x4) available to bands within close proximity of the areas we are working in and filled on first come first served basis, this will form 4 sub groups as follows:
1) Hevvy - At The Drayman, Bexleyheath! Incorporating Bloodstock Metal Festival’s -Metal to the Masses)
2) Alternative - Mid Kent.
3) Alternative - North Kent.
4) Alternative - South London.
With 7 venues looking for us to present heats, semi-finals and finals - we’ll wait a week before selecting the best options for the applicants to the platform, partly based on the number of bands closest to the venues in question.

Who Can Enter?

Anyone, although age restrictions may apply in some venues, we encourage ALL acts of a music nature to treat this at the very least as the only chance, within the next 3 months to play for Unified Sounds, promote themselves to enhanced crowds and stand the chance to win one of up to 50 prizes already sought which will total a value in excess of £10,000.

How To Enter Band Quest 2009
It’s simple complete the entry form, pay the deposit, pick a date, promote like yourself like crazy!
There is NO entry fee, but a £10 (per person) holding deposit fully returnable after May 31st. We created 3 basis for compliance which are there to protect the competition from people that don’t see the value in what this represents, the terms are as follows:

• That the band does not pull out of the competition or any commitment at any stage.
• Not to damage any equipment either supplied to a band, borrowed from anyone associated to the platform, anything within the venues being utilised or provided in order to create the show and equipment provided for performance.
• That the band or any members of that band do not bring the project and organisers and any party linked to the project into disrepute. No negative campaigns or inflammatory comments neither about the project nor to any entity and not limited to the businesses, bands and individuals involved shall be made by the band nor any other member of it.

This year the deposit will be based on £10 per person in the band, however this will come with entitlements normally bestowed on the Loyalty Card Holders under a scheme run by the Rock Matrix, and for band members, even more targeted rewards, here are some below:

• 15% OFF at Dingo Jacks (Dartford) throughout the duration of associated events.
• 10% OFF at Elephant Music (Gravesend) throughout the duration of associated events.
• £5 reduction of rehearsal time at Jigga Jam studios on a £30 booking (£25) and a “buy four get one free” - so that that’s 5 sessions for £100 instead of £150.
• 20% off ALL items sold through Unified Sounds, Darkstore and Rock Matrix stalls.
• FREE drinks at various venues
• £1 OFF every event held by Unified Sounds until 31st May with the option to extend.

Take a look at what we are generating:

• £10,000 of prizes, cash and physical items.
• A competition for over 100 bands in South East.
• At least 44 events showcasing the very best local and unsigned music.
• Confidence in the music industry.
• The most active network of musicians to have ever existed in the South East.
• The HIGHEST Live Music attending gigs in the best local venues.
• More Festival slots than any other promoter can offer to local bands.
• Deals and offers for those involved in Band Quest.
• Passion with bands and fans like never before.
• 3 CDs to promote to industry and create London Show Cases for Bands on the CDs as well as get EVERY copy into the palms of music lovers everywhere.