Rock bands are gearing up for battle on Monday when they'll take to the stage of the Ko Shan Theatre in Hunghom for the Hong Kong finals of the Yamaha Asian Beat Band Competition. In place of the shrilling opera that usually fills the venue will be the storming sounds of 15 groups, as well as guest performances from local band of the moment Ping Pung and indie act Az.
Asian Beat, organised locally by the Tom Lee Music Foundation, has been rocking Hong Kong since 1999. The competition straddles seven Asian cities and, next February, all regional winners will fly to Indonesia for the final. Unlike the World Battle of the Bands, which allowed each act a 30-minute set, in Asian Beat it's a one-song shot at stardom: each lineup has just six minutes to prove themselves.
Some critics argue this is the downfall of the competition, and that it breeds a karaoke culture.
Judges will be looking for individual as well as group talent, with prizes also going to first and second runners-up as well as best vocalist, best guitarist, best bassist, best drummer and best keyboard player.
Of the 15 finalists, one of the best-credentialled are Infinity, who were overall champions and best songwriters at the 2002 Warehouse Teenage Band Competition. The quartet play a mixture of progressive rock and jazz, influences best shown on their signature track Interval of Time. Guitarist Timothy Chan says: 'They're all talented bands in the final, and their music is evidence of their passion for their art.'
Among the other favourites for this year's competition are the recently formed One Double Three, who won the Comic Fair Band Competition at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in August, before snatching the best original song award at the Warehouse Teenage Band Competition in September.