Two Stevenage bands have made it through to the semi-finals of a battle of the bands contest – one step away from a final showdown with acts from across Herts, Beds and Bucks.

Gekko – Stevenage’s answer to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and wide-ranging pop-rockers Decades Apart were both voted through at the MMG Three Counties Battle of the Bands second round contest at The Red Lion in the town last month.

They will now perform at The Flag, Watford in the penultimate stage of the contest against The City Is Ours and Slaves Of The Fallen from Watford, and Dunstable’s Lexi Scarlet on Saturday December 15.

Another ten bands will battle it out at two other venues – Bedford Esquires and Sno!Bar in Milton Keynes, with the top two from each going through to the final in January with the chance to win recording time, equipment and festival slots.

Tickets for The Flag gig are a fiver from www.majickmusicgroup.com or via www.wegottickets (search MMG).