BATTLE has commenced!Today voting begins for the Lovemusic24 Battle of the Bands competition which will show off the best of musical talent in Suffolk.

BATTLE has commenced!

Today voting begins for the Lovemusic24 Battle of the Bands competition which will show off the best of musical talent in Suffolk.

During the last few weeks the county's bands have been uploading their songs on the music website set up by The Evening Star and its sister paper The East Anglian Daily Times.

And now it is the turn of the fans to vote for which song they like the most, by listening to the tracks on www.lovemusic24.co.uk and then voting either online or by text.

The five bands with the most votes will then go on to perform live in front of a panel of four judges as well as supporting headline act Prego formed by Edd Simpson, brother of Charlie Simpson of Busted and Fightstar fame.

Held at the Circle Lounge at the Regent Theatre in Ipswich on November 14 the competition will see the winning band with a fabulous prize consisting of a weekend of recording with Punch Studios for up to three tracks including the mixing and mastering of the CD.

Punch Music Academy is also offering a year's free membership to the winners who will be able to benefit from discounts at selected music stores and further discounts at Academy's rehearsal rooms and at Punch Studios.

Outsource marketing and web design will also provide the artwork for the CD and sleeve design.

The judging panel is made up of James Young from Ipswich Borough Council, Steve Hicks from ICR, Jon Barnes from The Evening Star and East Anglian Daily Times and Bronwyn Cooper from Road to V winners, Underline The Sky.

Fans can start voting at 10am today until 4pm on Friday October 30.

The top five finalists will be announced the week commencing November 2 and each of the five bands will have a feature about them published in The Evening Star and on lovemusic24.co.uk in the week before the big battle.

n. Don't forget to get your ticket to watch the bands go head to head at the big final and watch Prego play.

Tickets cost �5 and are available from the front office of The Evening Star and East Anglian Daily Times at 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich. For further information email info@lovemusic24.co.uk

To find out more about what is taking place on the Ipswich music scene visit www.lovemusic24.co.uk

What do you think is needed for the music scene in Ipswich? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

HOW TO VOTE

Text lovemusic24 to 63333 followed by the relevant code (texts cost 50p + standard network charge):

Timothy Leat 001

This Boy Wonders 002

A World Apart 003

The Jim Jims 004

FAGAN 005

Stand Still Kid 006

Flooding the Silence 007

Stratosfire 008

Echoes Fall 009

This Sudden Injury 0010

Playing With Fire 0011

Public Outcry 0012

Saul Mortalis 0013

gods kitchen 0014

Asa Jennings 0015

Any votes received after the deadline will not be counted but may still be charged. If you do not receive the conformation message your vote will not be counted.

Text voting: 16+. Texts cost 50pence plus standard network charges. Please get permission from the bill payer. Text customer services 0844 448 3389 Visit www.lovemusic24.co.uk for full terms and conditions.

Vote for your favourite band - click here.