Many congratulations to Southport band THE COAST (judge's vote) and Liverpool five-piece LAZY SUNDAZE (audience vote), winners of the first heat of Southport Battle of the Bands 2022 held last night (Friday) in the resort's Banff club in West Street, writes Martin Hovden.





They now go through to the next round of the competition which has a top prize of £1,000.



And many thanks to Southport trio Dave Aston, Martin White and Hayden Birch for organising such an amazing start to a contest which has brought live music back in abundance to Southport after the Covid lockdown.

The second heat is next Friday, July 8, in the Banff.

Full report and more pictures, plus video, coming soon.