Thursday 1st March's 5 band, 2 stage event presented five of the best rock / metal acts in the region as part of the GRANTS NOT FEES student demonstration planned for Taunton on the same day.

Exeter based KIDS NEAR WATER formed less than a year ago joint headlined the showcase. The band are currently promoting their debut mini album entitled 'Extended Player One' on Firefly Records which has won respect from critics and included support slots with emo big-timers Elliott and Earthtone 9. The four piece have been touted as 'Rising Talent' by Kerrang! and are hotly tipped for 2001. The magazine awarded the band a coveted 5 K's rating for their album and they have received airplay from Mary Ann Hobbs on Radio 1's rock show.

FICTION the other headline act, played after negotiating a recording deal with Earache Records, whose rock stable includes Pitchshifter, Entombed, Scorn, Carcass, The Offspring and Linea 77. The band offered the most powerful live show witnessed in the area and certainly whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

Rock five piece STUPIDICUS completed the line-up on the main stage. With Influences ranging from Limp Bizkit to Rage Against The Machine. The band are pushing their debut, self-distributed single ' Less Than Everything' and are touring the Czech Republic in April.

Stage two featured BORT (Green Day-esque, trash, punk) and Taunton debutants CIVIAN (nu-metal)