FOUR up-and-coming bands will be rubbing shoulders with music legends Manic Street Preachers and Kaiser Chiefs after winning a talent contest.

The acts – Your Illuminations, Able’s Army, The Harriets and Sifaka – performed in Keighley to secure a place on the bill at this year’s Bingley Music Live festival.

The bands beat off competition from a shortlist of 24 acts in the talent contest, organised by Bradford Council in partnership with Russell Street music venue The Exchange.

The grand final of the contest took place on Friday at The Exchange. The other bands that made it to the final were Keighley’s The Sailmakers, Cheap Teeth, Ghost Marshalls and Lucas Watt.

Michael Watmough, from The Exchange, said: “It’s been a fantastic year for the Emerging Talent Competition. The quality keeps on getting better and better and it was a pleasure to host the event again.

“Events like this are so important for the local music scene to help bands connect and have a platform to be recognised and, while not everyone wins, I believe there is a lot of benefit for everyone who takes part.”

Each of the four winning acts will get a 30-minute slot at this year’s Bradford Council-run festival on either September 2 or 3.

Sifaka will appear on the Main Stage on the Saturday. The band’s unique breed of soulful rock was forged in the fires of the Leeds music scene. Their sound is inspired by West African funk and blues and South African cape-jazz.

The line up for the festival includes The Manic Street Preachers, Kaiser Chiefs, The Wombats, Maximo Park, Pete Doherty, Soul II Soul and Badly Drawn Boy.

Visit bingleymusiclive.com to book tickets.