Sounds Like Summer music competition back in Strabane after 5 years

by Q Radio News

The Alley Theatre in Strabane is hosting the Sounds Like Summer Music Competition this weekend. 

After a five year break, it's back with plenty of local singer/songwriters and bands who will battle to go through to the heats next month. 

11 acts have been chosen from all over Ireland to perform on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th of July. 

Two acts from each night will be chosen by a panel of judges to go through. 

The overall winner will receive an EP of their own original producion by Small Town America Records and their own video produced by the Pulse Centre.

The acts performing on Friday the 28th of July are: 

• Fergus O'Dalaigh - he's from Leitrim and has supported Declan O'Rourke and Mick Blake at Stoney Woods Festival. 
   
• The DizzFunktional B.M.C - a Derry City Rapper/Hip Hop artist who's currently putting together his debut solo album that's due by the end of the year.
   
• Chloe Heatley - a singer/songwriter of the Pulse Project who's a regular at open mic nights in Derry.
   
• 'Not Today' - a band from Omagh who's following on from their recent EP 'Let it Light' in 2015 and debut single 'The Get Go' early 2016.
  The single has received airplay on various radio stations across the UK and Ireland. 
   
• HARKS - a band fronted by Glen Harkin, the winner of Strabane's Summer Jamm Busking Competition.
  They feature they're own songs as well as covering anything from ACDC and Johnny Cash to Rag N Bone man. 

Acts performing on Saturday the 29th of July are: 

• Nineteen 80' Something - a Strabane and Omagh based punk, indie, bounce, rap, metal group fronted by Jamie Bonner.
   
• Mairead Corry - renowned for her YouTube channel Make Shift Strumming.
   
• Great White Lies - they released their debut EP to critical acclaim including a nomination from Pure M for best EP and winning VAI song of the year. 
  They've also performed at Guth Gafa International Film Film Festival, Allingham Arts Festival and headlined Galway Fringe.
   
• Mark Loughrey - Alternative folk singer from Sion Mills who combines his love of writing and poetry with personal components. 
  For the past 2 months he has been recording his debut EP 'Treppenwitz'.
   
• Ruairi McCafferty - from Aeon Azure
• Liam Cannon - a Strabane singer/songwriter who's a regular on the local music scene.