Winner Jess heads for festivals

Jess Kemp

FOLLOWING on from the sell-out single launch for VondelPark at Sacred Trinity Church, Jess Kemp and her band have been crowned the winners of the Manchester Student Band Competition 2017 - bagging rare unsigned slots at the Kendal Calling and Bluedot Festival this summer.

Jess and the band smashed through the semi-finals at Manchester's Band on the Wall in April, wowing the judging panel which included Oldham legend Clint Boon (Real XS), Jo Good (Radio X) and Tim Thomas (Blueprint Studios).

The final was held across two stages in the Manchester Arndale as frantic Thursday night shoppers revelled in the unsigned talent.

The 22-year-old singer-songwriter is studying music business at BIMM Manchester in order to fuel the acceleration of her career, and after six years on the Manchester circuit, Jess is now beginning to appear on larger scale gigs with her band.

Speaking about the win, Jess said: "It's a massive shock to us, but it's beyond exciting.

"We can't thank the judges and the organisers enough.

"The other bands we were up against were massively hard competition and it was an honour to play alongside them.

"I think it's our time now though, we've got a couple of months to get ourselves together and get on those stages."

For Jess and the band, this summer is set to be busy.

They smashed last weekend's Dot 2 Dot Festival in Manchester - alongside the Slow Readers Club, Cassia and Stillia).

Check out Jess's up-to-date gig news at www.jesskemp.band