YOU never quite know with local bands. They are either going to be screeching, out of tune disasters or a pleasant surprise.

And considering they were following in the footsteps of a certain Mercury Prize-winning act whose breakthrough gig was at the same club, there was a lot to live up to.

Thankfully, the first heat of the battle of the bands at the Birdwell Club on Tuesday turned out to be a cracker.

Midair 91 took on Cuba for a place in the final on Saturday September 23, with the third band due to appear, Silverwood, failing to show.

Midair 91's youthful energy was the most enjoyable aspect of their attention-grabbing performance.

For a bunch of teenagers - lead singer and bassist Damien Haigh is 19, drummer Ben Hinchliffe and guitarist James Dawson are both 16 - these boys can play. Their punk sound is fantastic, and they coped extremely well with their material.

Some of their songs are a tad similar, with the possible exception of Date Rape, a new tune they launched into with particular relish.

Ignore the unfortunate title for a second, it is a standout song. And just watch that drummer fly.

Give this band time, and they may well find their unique sound. The one major disappointment was the strength of the singing. Perhaps the trio will become a foursome in the future.

Cuba are an accomplished mellow Indie band. They preferred slower, longer songs but still retained their individuality and displayed a wider range of music than Midair 91.

They also have good songs such as 'Under the Sun', a decent tune played with aplomb which spurred some of their more adventurous fans onto the dancefloor. 'You Move Me', was another which sounded fantastic when they launched into it but lost steam as it progressed.

It is almost impossible to compare the two bands, with their different styles and outlooks on life, but it was impossible not to enjoy both 30-minute sets for what they were.

No wonder the judges took their time deciding, but in the end youth overcame experience and the punk rockers won the day.

• The next heat takes place on Tuesday September 12, featuring Rainfly, Psyne and the Flux Capacitors. To check out a sample of their songs follow the links below.