Rockhampton has always been a hub for pub bands and local talent and it seems that when the weather is cold outside, inside Rockhampton's pubs and clubs the line up of local talent will be sure to heat things up.

In the upcoming weeks Rockhampton venues will be alive with the sound of music.

By student reporter Erin Stevens

This Saturday 26^th of July, O'Dowd's Irish pub will play host to one of Australian's hottest upcoming acts The Getaway Plan. Appearing on Rove Live recently the boys from Melbourne are bringing their sound to Rockhampton with their Where the City Meets the Sea tour. Supporting The Getaway Plan are local bands Psuedo Promise, When We Were You and Mackay's MadisonFox.

Andrew Flamank, guitarist from When We Were You, said the band is looking forward to supporting this upcoming big name Aussie act.

"We haven't played a really big show in awhile so we're really keen to get back into it. We've been practicing hard so we're looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd. Also, there will probably be a lot of people who haven't heard our stuff before so that's a plus too."

Local bands rely soley on the support from their fans to go from strength to strength when playing live gigs. In regards to support for local talent Flamank believes that there isn't a lot "But the support that you do get is really humbling and reassuring and honest".

Hitting closer to home for University student music lovers is the National Campus Band Competition with heats having commenced at venues around the country where one band will take away the winner's title in this prestigious competition.

The National Campus Band Competition is the largest live band competition in the Southern Hemisphere. Every year up to 1000 bands from over 80 universities and TAFE campuses compete in front of thousands to be crowned national winners in this presegious and highly respected competition.

The NCBC is an annual competition produced by the Australian Association of Campus Activities. The National Aids Education Campaign Unit and National Youth Radio Station Triple J sponsor the event. To be eligible to enter the competition at least one band member must be enrolled at a participating university.

In the past the competiton has launched the successful careers of artists such as Eskimo Joe, The Vines, Jebediah, George, Grinspoon, Frenzel Rhomb and Augie March.

The competition is advertised on the University's website with heats running during July and August. However a recent update informs that the CQUniversity section for the NCBC has been cancelled due to lack of entries and states that they will host another search in 2009.

Flamank, who is enrolled at CQUniversity said he'd heard about the competiton once but knew nothing about it.

"It's pretty poorly advertised I think. I would have no idea what bands are participating or how to enter. Being in one of the more renowned bands in town, you would think we'd hear more about it". 

Lack of support could be one of the reasons that NCBC was poorly received in Rockhampton. "Advertising events and gigs requires a large amount of commitment. You need a reasonable amount of time and need to know where to put flyers and stuff so the right people can find out about what's happening and when", says Flamank. 

In the past the CQUniversity section has gone ahead in the competition with former local band Enlightened by Darkness making their way to the finals of the NCBC but missing out on the winners title in 2005.

The Getaway Plan and supporting acts will appear live from 8pm.