By now the festival is entering it’s final phase just about everywhere. In many cities, bands have already been chosen as finalists, in others cities the semi-finals are still underway. In southern U.K. many local finals are finished and the qualifying bands will be moving on to the regional finals. At Pressure Point in Brighton, on the 20th of April, the qualifying bands were: UNDERTOWN – a group which plays melodic heavy metal, and 4 rock bands: SILVERMAKER (indie/brit rock), THE TRICK (rock), DACAPO (acoustic rock), and RIPCHORD (rock). In Portsmouth at Torngate Halls and Gosport, they have just finished the preliminaries. A diverse group of punk bands have qualified for the next round: TOUCHING CLOTH, PLAY WITH FIRE, PICKLED DICK. And also rock bands: TERRA FIRMA (hard rock), the SCREAMIN TRICKS (hard rock), MANTI, BASS JUMPIN (punk rock), and PLASTIC HAMSTER (rock/punk); and then two indie bands: ROLLING DOG, and EVE’S ONLY SON, and two metal bands: PROTO-TEST, and CERBERUS (heavy metal). The Runner-up bands being carried over to the next round are: ZERO TOLERANCE (punk rock), and MILES HIGH ON MARS (electronic rock). Four semi-finals were held at The Nexus Club in Southampton . The bands qualifying for the final are: PERSONA (nu-metal), WITHOUT REASON (melodic rock), STAND and MURMUR - both indie rock, and SPYDER BABY (melodic rock), NOT X CHOICE (metal), LO*CHINE (funk/rock), and ORIGINAL TROLLEY SHOP (acid jazz/funk & soul). The runner-ups are: TOUPE (bass rock), and SOUNDER (indie rock). Tomorrow (16th Mai) the Semi Final Dates & Listings will start at The Villa Bournemouth in Bournemouth. Here is the schedule for the two evenings on the program: Friday the 16th of May, 2003 Ariya - Rock - Carve – Funk/Rock - Farther – Indie/Acoustic - Circa - Alternative Rock - Hometown Hi-Fi - Electronic Rock - Friday the 23rd of May, 2003 The First Reel - Post Hardcore - Dallah - Blues Rock - Molby K's - Indie - Maine Street - Indie Rock 'N' Roll - The Dirt - Rock - Cherry Atrium - Punk Rock -