Over 300 people turned up to support up and coming local music talent at the final of this year’s BurySOUND competition.

The eventual winners on Saturday (November 8), after three heats, were The Virtues, an atmospheric grunge foursome from the Stowmarket and Bacton area.

The band beat Echo Tree, Alicia Ann Mills, Fortunato and the Staycations at the event, hosted at the Apex, in the Arc shopping centre.

Owen Williams, 25, The Virtues drummer from Bacton, said: “We never thought we were going to win, not in the slightest.

“Our aim was just to play at the Apex, but when we heard the competition in the heat we were blown away, we thought ‘no chance’. It is amazing to win. Playing the Apex was incredible, it is such a huge stage compared to what we are used to.”

Owen said the band hoped to use the competition to push on and make a career out of music. In total, 12 acts entered the competition, now in its 16th year, with two wildcards and three heat winners in the final.

BurySOUND is organised by St Edmundsbury Borough Council in association with the Apex and Washing Machine events.