Copper Rooms 1, Crooning and Cacti? Battle of the Bands is geared for the finals after Heat Five

Copper Rooms 1, University of Warwick Campus, 26 February, 2026

The final heat of Warwick BandSoc’s annual Battle of the Bands is finally upon us. After taking a break for Real Ale Festival to take centrestage, heat five will reveal the (almost) complete line-ups for both the finals and semi-finals. Due to some issues with CR2, the heat took place in Copper Rooms 1, leaving there to be a lot more space for the bands to fill. Will they be able to do it?

Up first, tasked with warming up a mingling crowd who have already been waiting longer than expected, was Kintsugi. They performed just five days earlier during Warwick’s Real Ale Festival, and this preparation put them in a strong position. I immediately connected with the five member band, composed of Bruce, Jones, Towell, Assock, and Lakin. Their sound feels so professional and refined, and their performance felt natural. On the larger stage, in comparison to that of CR2, the performances risked feeling small, but Kintsugi’s natural charisma and on-stage interactions allowed them to fill the stage effectively. Between their 2nd and 3rd song, someone from the audience yells – “I love you Kintsugi” – and frankly, so do I. Towell’s impressive vocal range and Bruce’s prowess on drums were striking. Their confidence grew during their performance, and I wasn’t ready to see them go by the end of their set, when they bid us farewell with a “I love you all, that’s it from us”.

The lead singer’s emotive vocals paired with the backing vocals of their drummer felt the most impactful

Following such a spectacular performance was Compass. They have such a unique energy, and it was really refreshing. Despite such a stark change in tune, Compass maintained the audience’s attention, through the singer’s cadence and the use of props! “Prop incoming” as a fellow band member placed a pirate hat onto the lead singer’s head is so incredibly endearing. After throwing the hat into the audience at the end of the song, their two guitarists swapped instruments for the third track, before returning to “default settings” for the fourth and final. The third track, however, stayed with me. It demonstrated the bands dynamic nature, and the lead singer’s emotive vocals paired with the backing vocals of their drummer felt the most impactful with this song. They left the stage with resounding applause.

Third up was Spike and the Cacti, probably my favourite band name so far! After the mixed bag Heat Five has already shown with Kintsugi and Compass, I truly don’t know what to expect. The band, composed of freshers, perform as if they’ve been playing together for years. With a natural confidence, and high energy – mainly displayed through the groove of their lead singer – it is a truly infectious performance. Their first few songs had a level of intensity, with piercing guitars and impactful riffs, as well as passionate vocals. To conclude their set, they introduce their final song as “chilled out” in comparison. It seems to be a favourite from the audience, with many onlookers clapping along with the track. After praising the “great audience”, Spike and the Cacti left the stage, appropriately very proud of their performance, as they dapped each other up as they left the stage.

Bloodrot is our next performance, and unlike previous bands, by the name, style, and red lighting filling the stage, I think we all know what is about to be delivered. Despite rumours that the band was feeling unprepared, the five-piece band was able to deliver a strong, aggressive performance of “hearty rock and roll”. The stage filled with headbanging, intense layered instrumentals, and screamo vocals. Bloodrot was evidently a fan favourite, with a mosh pit organically opening up, further encouraged by the lead singer who during the last song warned that this was our “last chance to get moving”. 

A wonderful set to round the evening off; their authenticity and the atmosphere they created was delightful

To conclude the night, last but not least, is Crème Fraîche. The larger stage is easily filled by the band, who had six members, being the only band of the night to have a keyboardist. Their distinctions don’t end there, as they are also the only band of the night to have a female vocalist. While I had some anxieties about how six musicians would be able to form a cohesive sound, Crème Fraîche delivers a clean and coherent soundscape, which is thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. The vocals have the strongest clarity, allowing me to appreciate the pretty lyricism: “Up and Down / Round and Round”. While this is my first introduction to Crème Fraîche, they mentioned that last year they used to be a folk band, but their sound now leans much more towards pop and rock. It is a wonderful set to round the evening off; their authenticity and the atmosphere they created was delightful.

After a little wait, we finally find out the final placements. For Heat Five, Bloodrot secure a ticket to the finals, while Kintsugi in 2nd still have a chance when they fight for their place in the semis. Spike and the Cacti were announced to be third, receiving a ‘wildcard’ position.

As the final heat, it wasn’t long after that BandSoc posted a poll on their Instagram to find out which ‘wildcard’ band would make it to the semi-finals. Dust to Dust, Burgundy Rush, The Boys Want Cars, Creek and Spike and the Cacti were our ‘wildcards’, and ultimately Spike and the Cacti won the ‘wildcard vote’, securing them an opportunity to perform at the semi-finals.