Brighton band through to final of national music award

Local band Common Tongues will appear in the final of a nationwide contest for new bands tomorrow night

Brighton based folk band Common Tongues have beaten almost 100 other entrants to reach the final for the Isambard Folk Award

Common Tongues are a five-piece folk band, citing Bon Ivor and Arcade Fire as influences, with their debut single Jumping Ships released last year. Having already played at Bestival and with a Cafe Nero tour in May/June of this year, the band already has an established fan base, and have now taken their success to the next level.

Competing against nearly 100 other bands from all over the country, Common Tongues have been selected as one of five finalists to play in Bristol’s Colston Hall on Friday 30 March, and will be aiming to land the grand prize of appearing on the main stage at the 2012 Bristol Folk Festival in May.

Last year, organisers staged the inaugural contest to celebrate the first Bristol Folk Festival in 32 years.

Says festival co-organiser Jan Ayers: “Last year set a real standard with scores of diverse, high quality entries from all round the country. But this year has topped that with even more entries and a great cross section of bands and solo artists from across the traditional folk, experimental and contemporary spectrum.”

Tickets for the final are free and can be reserved by calling the Colston Hall box office on 0117 922 3686. Tickets must be collected between 6-7pm on the night.

For more information visit www.bristolfolkfestival.com