Twelve bands will attempt to wow the judges during ELjam’s Battle of the Bands at Haddington music festival Haddstock on Saturday.
Two of the bands will then have the chance to perform on the Lighthouse Stage during Fringe by the Sea in August.
Cardiac Arrest and Room 27 will represent Dunbar Grammar School, while The Revolving Doors and Kings of Lugton fly the flag for Preston Lodge High School.
Gaslight and Red Raven are Knox Academy’s representatives, while No Prospects and Og are Musselburgh Grammar School’s entrants.
Finally, Indigo, and Queen Spirit, are in the competition on behalf of North Berwick High School, and Ross High School is represented by Cetaceans and Syths.
Each of the acts will receive prizes for their efforts.
The event is organised by ELjam – East Lothian’s youth music forum, part of East Lothian Council’s Arts Service.
The organisation’s role is to support, promote and develop youth music activity for all East Lothian people aged 25 and under.
Councillor Colin McGinn, cabinet spokesperson for community wellbeing, sport, countryside and leisure, wished the bands well.
He said: “The Battle of the Bands competition is a fantastic example of East Lothian Council’s arts service working in partnership with individuals and organisations such as Haddstock and area partnerships to provide opportunities for our young people to flourish.
“I am delighted to see so much musical talent from our young people.
“This event provides an excellent performance opportunity with valuable feedback for the bands from music industry professionals.”
Compère for the day at The Bridge Centre is Murray Briggs, from Edinburgh band Aberfeldy, and the competition will be judged by a panel of music industry professionals.
Faced with the difficult choice are: Bruce Craigie, co-owner of A Modern Way Management Company & Record Label, which has Idlewild, Fatherson, Zoe Graham, Rudi Zygadlo and Tom Joshua on its books; Harley Loudon, songwriter, musician, jazz singer, therapist and storyteller with various albums out on Apple and Spotify as a solo artist and band member; Andy Pennycuick, lead vocalist and harmonica player for 10-piece ska band Bombskare, and guitarist/backing vocalist for The Pennycuick Girls; and Inge Thomson, performer, producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist.
To round off the day, there will be performances from the Haddstock-Knox Project, which includes the Arts Service youth music initiative’s ‘Build a Band’, and a performance from The Brunton performing arts network drama groups.
Beki Dover, director of Haddstock, said: “The Haddstock team is delighted to be partnering with ELjam to bring Battle of the Bands to the Bridge Centre, Haddington, as part of Haddstock Music and Arts Festival on May 27. It’s a beautiful partnership as our mutual aim is to provide a platform for young people to play music live and to gain invaluable industry experiences.”
East Lothian Council arts service is also running a range of arts activities to try at Haddstock.
Sessions are free but must be booked in advance. For more information, go to bit.ly/Haddstock