The drug and alcohol free event drew a crowd of 150 teens and their families.

Homebase Youth Services development officer and event coordinator, Sarah Brooker said the day went off without a hitch.

“We had about 150 young people attend and they were all well-behaved and fantastic.

“Everyone had a good time and the bands were excellent.”

Bowbon band, the Hydrafonics won out against six other bands from Forster Tuncurry and Greater Taree, including runners up Respect Sunday and third-place getters Breaking Dawn.

Miss Brooker said it was the Hydraphonics’ combination of crowd interaction and musical ability that won it.

“They really got the crowd involved in the whole process,” she said.

“They just demonstrated a lot of potential and originality, they did four covers and four originals which were excellent and they just made the covers their own.”

The band will record three songs with Turn Around Music which will be professionally edited and mastered as part of their $6000 prize package.

Hyrdaphonics front man, Jack Bailey, said the band have been handed a major opportunity.

“It will definitely give us more experience, we released our EP in January and this studio time means we will have a variety of recoding opportunities which is a major boost for our confidence,” he said.

“It [the competition] also gets your name out there through advertising for the event which is great.”

Funds raised will go towards staging this year’s event as well as financing next year’s battle.

“It’s about supporting our young people and providing an environment where they can interact with their peers and enjoy themselves in a drug and alcohol free environment because there aren’t many opportunities for them to do that in this area,” Miss Brooker said.

The Hydrafonics and Respect Sunday have secured performances at Commotion by the Ocean in Tuncurry next January.

The Hydrafonics will be playing at the Old Bar Beach Festival this long weekend from 5pm on Saturday and 2pm on Sunday.

The group will also be appearing at the Wingham sporting grounds for Relay for Life on October 11 and the Wingham Akoostik Festival on October 18.

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