Above: Mike with Hove and Portslade’s entry in Rock the House.

Mike has staged a battle of the bands event to decide which local act should be put forward as our local entrant in ‘Rock the House’. The winner, Echo Rain, will represent Hove and Portslade in the national finals of the competition.

Rock the House is a parliamentary competition to find the country’s best unsigned band whilst raising awareness of copyright protection issues. Members of Parliament from all around the UK have each nominated a band from their respective constituencies. The national competition was founded by Mike in 2010.

Mike held the local battle of the bands event, to pick his own constituency’s entrant, at the Latest Music Bar in Brighton and a panel of local music experts picked the winner. Five bands fought it out for the prize and Echo Rain emerged as the favourite.

A national winner will be announced next month.