Credit: Found On Internet

Red Stripe are almost synonymous with the London live scene – although that’s more due to the fact that it’s the only beer you can buy in half the venues, rather than any particular brand-building on their behalf. And now they’re here sponsoring what looks to be the UK’s biggest unsigned band search. Considering the prize is none too shabby – slots at The Great Escape and Lovebox, and a slot supporting “a profile band” (okay, so it’s probably Rumblestrips, but it’s something I guess) we’re hoping this nationwide search will have thrown up some choice slices of unsigned talent. Which is why Music Towers has crawled into the Scala at Kings Cross to catch the Grand Final of the competition on a blustery Tuesday night.

Camel One were unlucky to be first on the bill – while they got the audience bright-eyed and busy-tailed, it hardly makes up for the fact that the crowd at the Scala aren't quite ready to get into the swing of their excitable, Hammond Organ-shaded rock. It’s a shame that when frontman Dave Chanell hands the guitar over to  keyboardist Chris Channell for their final track of the night - as while he looks a little bit lost without a six-string to hold on to – Camel One have proved that its possible sound retro and fresh at the same time.

City Royals are like a pack of Revels – you know what’s in the bag, you’re just not sure what you’re getting till you ingest it. A hodgepodge of everything from Ash to the Futureheads (not forgetting to take some beats from The Rakes and a bit of bluster from The Twang along the way) it’s just a little bit soul-destroying. It’s not bad per se, but if one of the best bands picked from around a hundred hopefuls is just an identikit pick’n’mix guitar act, then you’ve got to ask about the acts that didn’t get through.

yourcodenameis:milo are one of two established acts brought in to break-up the unsigned parade, and they seem ever so slightly embarrassed to be here. While their middleweight Britrock occasionally pulls out a riff that raises pulses amongst the faithful and an eyebrow on the unconvinced, it’s still rather pedestrian. Frontman Paul Mullen was beset by technical glitches during their first track, and with most of the crowd reacting with statuesque inactivity, it’s a flat experience for everyone involved.