EVEN a bout of illness could not hold back Sixty 6, as the pre-competition favourites booked their place in the Battle of the Bands final last night.

Despite two-thirds of the hotly-tipped band suffering from what the compere politely described as "bottom trouble", they knocked out a polished set of soft rock tunes for an enthusiastic Fibbers crowd.

Looking like butter wouldn't melt and with hair scruffily styled to within an inch of its life, these lads are a huge hit with the ladies.

Their sound is nothing new - American-soaked indie rock for the Dawson's Creek generation - but they do it skilfully well.

A particular favourite with the crowd was Sometimes, which lead singer Mike Wilson branded their "pop tune", and got quite a few onlookers singing along.

The three-piece may not appreciate the comparison, but there was something a little bit Busted about the summery ditty.

Earlier in the evening, the competition had been kicked off with a bang by the intriguing Solstice, whose lead singer, Jim Harbourne, was sporting a rather apt Let It Rock T-shirt.

This promising young band peddle a quirky, distinctive brand of guitar music, which is impossible to pigeonhole.

Combining the full-on rock of Metallica and the funkier tendencies of the Red Hot Chili Peppers with bongos and a didgeridoo, this five-piece are certainly rich on the ideas front.

Yet sometimes you felt they were trying to cram in just a few too many, leaving the audience a little confused as to what was going on.

While their Santana-esque cover of the Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams may have seemed inspired to the pubescent audience, you can rest assured that Fibbers had heard it all before.

Bringing up the rear once again were I Am Jack, another magpie-like group who meld a variety of influences to produce soothing ambient soundscapes, peaking with the soothing Rooftop.

Smartly turned out as ever, they put in a solid set of mature songwriting and luscious sounds, with nods to the Verve, Doves and Elbow, among others.

The band clinched the runner-up spot and must now wait for the outcome of next week's semi-final, as must other runners-up Vanacutt, to see if they will make the final five alongside Sixty 6 and New Legends.