Take It to the Bridge
Two Queens' College students to take part in the University of Cambridge Battle of the Bands
The grand finale of Take it to the Bridge, the University of Cambridge’s band competition, will see a musical showdown taking place between four student bands, each fighting for a chance to perform to thousands on the main stage at the Cambridge Club Festival as part of a line-up of world renowned artists including Chaka Khan, Sister Sledge, Melanie C, and Jessie Ware.
Performing on Friday 1 March at The Junction (J1) in Cambridge will be four exceptional Cambridge finalists, Temor, Quasar, East Street on a Tit and Soft Crunchy Landing.
Two Queens' College students will be heading into the final with high hopes, to perform with their bands: Alex Jones of Quasar, playing a unique blend of Hip-Hop and Jazz, and Gabriel Margolis of Soft Crunchy Landing, "the softest, crunchiest, landiest funk band Cambridge has ever seen" according to their entry on the CMP website.
Gabriel Margolis - Soft Crunchy Landing
"I joined Soft Crunchy Landing as a naive piano-playing fresher precisely two years ago, and I am honoured to be here today music-directing the band for the Take It To The Bridge final. The band has been an absolute joyride from start to finish: from thrilling (though sleep-deprived) May Weeks to unbelievable weddings and parties, this band never ceases to deliver unforgettable experiences.
We've been rehearsing arduously for Take It To The Bridge: from refining some of our classic numbers, to preparing brand new arrangements altogether, we're excited to play 25 minutes of funky, electric music to the crowd. The stakes are certainly high for the winners this year - with free festival tickets and a recording session on the line it would mean so much for me to finish my time at Cambridge with such amazing experiences."
Alex Jones - Quasar
"I'm Alex, a second year Queens' natsci and the bassist in Quasar. I've been playing bass for around 10 years playing all sorts of genres in various bands, but I've never been in a band like Quasar before! When they asked me to join them this year, I was super excited because the fusion of jazz, R&B and hiphop/rap is so much fun to play, and very rare among the kinds of student bands you see around.
We're really looking forward to the Take It to the Bridge competition - we've got some big ideas coming along that we're excited to share, and with the talented lineup we know it's going to be a great night!"
Take It to the Bridge is hosted by the University's Centre for Music Performance (CMP) and is open to everyone! Tickets are available online to purchase on the CMP website along with more information on each of the contenders. The judges’ decision will be informed by a live audience vote, with the winner announced at the end of the evening.
This year's judging panel includes Sonita Alleyne OBE (Chair, Centre for Music Performance and Master of Jesus College, Cambridge), Matt Fincham (Music Editor, BBC Radio 1) and Frazer Robinson (Co-Founder, Cambridge Club Festival).
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