SPARKS will fly tonight when six of Warrington's finest bands battle it out in the Grand Final of 1999's Music Wars.

After 12 months of musical showdowns, the winners of the five previous heats will compete for the grand prize in a Bonfire Night extravaganza at the Parr Hall.

Like its predecessors, the event will be staffed partly by band members, students and young volunteers in a bid to encourage young people to gain first hand experience of the music industry.

Besides hundreds of music fans, the event will be attended by a smattering of record company scouts from Warrington and further afield.

Veteran crowd-pullers Strange Street have certainly earned their popularity on the Warrington pub circuit. Accomplished musicians, their sinuous blues-rock takes in everything from pop and metal to funk and reggae.

Meanwhile, young upstarts Agent Olive come to the event fresh from winning Music Wars Five with their first gig together. The five-piece from central Warrington delight in describing themselves as a cross between The Who and The Housemartins, but might be better compared to modern day free spirits like Beta Band and Super Furry Animals.

Equally big on attitude are sharp Mod popsters The Start. The band, whose edgy guitar pop owes a lot to The Kinks, make up what they lack in polish and experience with their freshness and energy.

An even more youthful challenge will come from Elite, a teenage four-piece from Westbrook founded by guitarist James Kelly, who suffers from the chronically fatiguing condition known as ME. Joined by his brother, David, and friends Steve and Jamie, James describes his songs as a mix of rock, funk, grunge, indie, 'Sixties and pop.

He has to sit on a chair while he plays but still managed to blow the audience away when his band won Music Wars Four.

Popular post-Grunge outfit Underline were crowned joint winners in the same heat as Strange Street. Inspired by a love of Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Korn, the band has gone through a last-minute change in line-up, and now incorporates two members of Crib, who were narrowly defeated by Agent Olive in last month's contest.

Trying to out-clout them will be metal group Cicada, formerly known as Greedo. Formed at Cultcheth High School in 1995, the band admire metal giants like Sepultra, Pantera and Soundgarden, and their music is getting heavier all the time!

After four hours of furious fretworkery, the audience will vote for their favourite act and the result will be modified by a panel of judges.

And to ensure the night ends with a bang, organisers Unicorn Promotions have arranged for some onstage pyrotechnics, including flash bombs!

The winner of the event will receive a package of prizes sponsored by Warrington music stores, the Rotary Club and the GUARDIAN. This includes studio time, vouchers, and a promotional package custom-made for the band by GUARDIAN music reporter Steve Rylance.

A separate cash prize will be presented by the Rotary Club for the band with the best business acumen.

The Music Wars Final takes place at the Parr Hall tonight, Friday, November 5, at 6pm. Tickets, priced at £7 or £5 with a flyer, are available from the box office or on the door.

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