A ROCK band, dancing group and trumpeter were the lucky acts to make it through the second heat of Swindon Talent ‘09.

Following on from the first heat in Purton on June 5, a barbecue atmosphere was created at The Bowl in the Town Gardens as locals soaked up the sun and reviewed the acts on stage.

Judged by Swindon Advertiser editor Dave King, Swindon 105.5 community radio’s Shirley Ludford and Arts Centre manager Clarry Bean, brave singers Heidi Veiech, Caroline Pitt, Jasia Rodrigues and Elroy Rodrigues sang without a backing track.

Other singing acts were comedy singer Mervyn Penny, Charlotte Spice with Natalie Imbruglia’s Shiver, seven-year-old Charlene Fleming and Elliot Watling.

The event showcased a wide variety of talent including Matt Chipperfield on guitar, comedian Chris Gregory who had the crowd laughing, young band Next Size Up and girls from the Moloney School of Dance who performed Irish dancing to the Timewarp Rachel Illsley played Halleluyah on the flute while duo Lauryn Williams, eight, and Brittany Ward, 11, danced and sang to Evita’s Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.

Winners were rock band Vivaxi and the Friday Night Project and the wildcard entry to the final went to trumpeter Matthew Harris, who is Swindon’s Young Musician of the Year.

Vivaxi consists of vocalist Chris Hawkins, Daniel Ball and Gareth Williams on drums, Ben Lee on bass guitar and Sam Bailey on drums.

Sam, 21, of Ulysses Road, Oakhurst, north Swindon, said: “I didn’t think they would call us out first – it was quite a relief.”

Guitarist Daniel, 21, of Percheron Close, Ramleaze, said: “We want to share our music and put ourselves out there.“ The Friday Night Project is a dance group set up in September and run by freelance teachers Sarah Josh and Clare Jones and involves dancers who come from various Swindon dance schools.

The dancers range in age from 12 up to 20 and get together to rehearse on Friday evenings at Covingham Park Primary School.

They performed in pink and purple wigs and electric pink tutus to songs from the movies Step Up and Hairspray.

Mrs Jones said: “We’re really proud of them, they’re just the best – they’re worth staying up on a Friday night for.”

Spectator Ann Gladwyn, 62, of Belmont Crescent, Old Town, said: “I thought the rock band was absolutely superb and Charlene was excellent, although she was nervous.

“It’s a lovely event and it’s great that people support it.”

Steve Hendry, 41, of Park South, said: “At least they have got the nerve to go up there – I’m very critical, I wouldn’t tell someone they were good just to be nice, but it is good because it gets folk outside.”

Mollie Tanner, of the Tanwood Academy of Dance, said she had been looking forward to the Friday Night Project group.

“I thought that the trumpeter was outstanding – all I can say is they’re putting their heart into it,” she said.

“They’re giving a lot of pleasure to a lot of people.”

There will be two further opportunities to get in the running for the final of Swindon Talent ’09 on August 8 at the Arts Centre on Devizes Road.

The first takes place on Saturday, July 11, at the Afro-Caribbean Carnival from 12pm and there is also an open competition, with no pre-entry required, at Commonweal School on July 16 at 4.30pm.

Applications must be made for July 11 heat by looking in the Advertiser or logging onto www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk.