Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds was an annual national rock/pop band competition held in Australia from 1966 to 1972.
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Australia's Battle of the Sounds was originally established by Australian tabloid magazine Everybody’s in 1965 as a talent quest for new unsigned bands in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
The National Battle of the Sounds gained significant credibility and attracted many of Australia’s top pop outfits when, in 1966, confectioner Hoadley's assumed sponsorship and it took the full name of "Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds" for the first time. Go-Set magazine took over the co-ordination role and local radio stations all over Australia organised local heats. This turned it into a truly national competition. Heats were held in the capital cities and country towns and bands worked their way up through semi-finals to one penultimate grand-final, held in either Melbourne or Sydney.
The valuable first prize was a full return passage to England on the Sitmar cruise line, two booked concerts in London and $1000 prize money, later upped to $2000 and return flights to Los Angeles (early winners did not get the concerts).
1969 was the peak year of the battle with over 1000 bands entering and two Grand Finals, one for full bands and one for groups and singing groups that specialised in harmony vocals. Over the years the battle would see such quality acts as The Groove and Sherbet taking out the major prize. Many other prominent outfits that would go on to greater success competed in the Battle until its conclusion in 1972.
| Year | Winner | Region/State | Other Finalists | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | The Crickets | Melbourne Victoria |
* Jimmy Crockett & The Shanes *The Pink Finks * The Showmen * The Rising Sons * Embers |
Festival Hall Melbourne |
| Year | Winner | Region/State | Second Place | Third Place | Other Place Getters | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | The Twilights | Adelaide South Australia |
The Loose Ends (Victoria) | Chaos & Co (Tasmania) | * The Road Runners * The Breed * The Chosen Few * Trolls * The Modes * The Clique |
Festival Hall Melbourne |
| 1967 | The Groop | Melbourne Victoria |
The Questions (NSW) | The Flamingoes (Queensland) | * The Valentines * The Mystics * The Wanderers * Gus & The Nomads * James Taylor Move * J A Madison * Mickey Finn * J B J & The Originals |
Festival Hall Melbourne |
| 1968 | The Groove | Melbourne Victoria |
Masters Apprentices (South Australia) | Doug Parkinson In Focus (NSW) |
* The Marksmen * Rain * Tol Puddle Martyrs * Shades of Blue * Beat 'n Tracks * Sect * Abstract Image * Black Orchids * J A Madison |
Festival Hall Melbourne |
| 1969 (Main Grand Final) |
Doug Parkinson in Focus | Melbourne Victoria |
Aesops Fables (NSW) | The Valentines(Victoria) | * The Avengers * Chain * Tin Pan Alley * Pepper Adams * Spice of Life * Sect * Limit * Proclamation * Clockwork Oringe * Chapter Three |
Festival Hall Melbourne |
| 1969 (Vocal Group Grand Final) |
The Affair | Sydney NSW |
Mark VI(Queensland) | Travis Wellington Hedge (South Australia) |
* The Chiffons * 1812 * New Edition |
Fesival Hall Melbourne |
| 1970 | The Flying Circus | Sydney NSW |
Zoot (Victoria) |
Autumn (NSW) |
* Nova Express * Axis * Sweaty Betty * Ssarb "Musick Express * Maya * Chapter III * Jug Band * Sons of Bacchus * Noddys Crew |
Capitol Theatre Sydney |
| 1971 | Fraternity | Adelaide South Australia |
Sherbet (NSW) |
Jeff St John and Copperwine (NSW) |
* Bacchus * October * Langford Lever * Pendulum * Nutmeg * Jelly Roll Big Band * Impulse * Barrelhouse |
Festival Hall Melbourne |
| 1972 | Sherbet | Sydney NSW |
Jeff St John and Copperwine (NSW) | Headband (South Australia) |
* Brandy * Jody |
Capitol Theatre Sydney |