UP-and-coming bands from schools and colleges across Worcestershire will battle it out for the chance to record a demo in a professional recording studio tomorrow.

Torium and Amoeba, whose members attend Bewdley High School and Hourglass, made up of students from Wolverley High School, will be among the eight groups taking to the stage at Stourbridge Rock Caf, as well as Kidderminster College band, Talking Funk.

The bands have all had three weeks to prepare for the Battle of the Bands final after being selected from 30 CDs submitted to an adjudication panel.

The contest, which is being presented by Worcestershire County Council arts education department, will start at 10.30am and finish at around 2.30pm.

It is open to the public and free to attend.

Head of music at Wolverley High School, Fred Mallinson, who has helped organise the contest, said it would consist of a wide range of high quality music.

The bands will be judged by a panel including a promoter and representatives of a record label and radio station, whose identities are being kept under wraps, he said.

He added each group would play for 15 minutes and be judged on stage presence, song writing and performance.

"There's a funk band, a Jamie Cullum-style group and a new metal band, as well as an Oasis-style group, so the competition is really diverse," he said.

"We have some quite distinctive judges ... so it should be an exciting event."

More information on the event can be obtained by calling Debbie Poulton on 01905 333505.

The winning band will go on to play in a music showcase at Malvern Theatres on Wednesday, July 6.