Who would have thought that the Tygers of Pan Tang would still be making records and playing shows over 40 years after their initial inception? Certainly not main man and sole surviving original member Robb Weir. ‘I was a fan of heavy rock who wanted to make his own music’ he said recently. ‘Last year when I walked on stage in Dusseldorf in front of 4,000 people it occurred to me that it had gone rather well!’

The original band, who made 4 albums for MCA records, survived the unexpected departure of Jess Cox to run Neat records and later John Sykes, who was bound for Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake. What they didn’t survive was their greatest commercial success with the album ‘The Cage’ and the arguments with their record company that would follow. However, Weir, ever the optimist, formed a new version of the band to both play the old material and write songs that would represent this ‘new’ Tygers. The backbone of the band – Craig Ellis, drums together with Jack Meille, vocals and Gav Gray, bass - have now been together for considerably longer than the first Tygers and were recently joined by Francesco Marras on guitar. Lengthy auditions had to ensure that Francesco could walk in the same shoes as his illustrious predecessors. Anyone coming to see the band will hear how successful that process was.

With the recent renewal of their contract with Mighty Music, the label that has released their last two albums, and a return to live work, Robb and the band cannot wait to get back on the road. Expect a setlist peppered with tunes from the early albums including the now recognised gem ‘Spellbound’ together with the best of their recent catalogue.

WINNERS OF INTRODUCING STAGE 2024

When four experienced musicians get together to form a new rock band, you know they mean business. Greyfox Conspiracy was formed to write songs about life and love which have been distilling away over many years like a good strong whiskey. When they formed the band they found they had a lot in common. Born and brought up in the South Wales landscape, which has seen so many changes in the past 100 years, they had a lot to write about.

All seasoned musicians who have been making music for as long as they can remember, they have now found a common ground where they can enjoy writing songs and playing live, and inspire a new generation of young musicians to keep the rock journey alive and thriving. Playing live shows is where these old grizzlies work best, putting all they have into making a show you would want to be part of, and see again. Structured around the charismatic Greyfox Growl, the band create a show allowing each band member to demonstrate their own personality, which on occasion is quite a thing to experience.

WINNERS OF INTRODUCING STAGE 2024

Cancel The Transmission are a Welsh hard rock band, formed in Cardiff in 2015. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Justin Crowe, lead guitarist Josh Thomas, bassist Carl Oag and drummer Rich Selby.

With the goal to bring Rock music back to the mainstream and capture an audience of all ages with their youthful energy and good time message, the band are shaping up to become an explosive breakthrough onto the air brushed face of today's current mainstream music scene. Cancel The Transmission's sound is best described as a hard-hitting shockwave at a time where Rock music lacks substance and attitude. With an array of feel good Hard Rock anthems, raunchy and riff driven powerhouses, infectious hooks and passionate ballads, the band are truly diverse at what they do.

The band's musical influences include bands such as Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Def Leppard and Whitesnake. As well as drawing influence from classic bands, they are also greatly influenced by many of the modern rock bands of today such as The Darkness, Alter Bridge, Inglorious, The Treatment and Airbourne.

WINNERS OF INTRODUCING STAGE 2024