Story and photos by Chris Roberts/WiderViewPhoto.co.uk

TWO high school bands highlighted their live playing prowess at a musical evening at Kineton Sports and Social Club.

Shipston High School band, Battered Soul, and Delerium, based at Kineton High School led the entertainment with a mix of music.

Both bands have been together for over three years, beginning when some of the players were only 12 or 13 years old and have progressed to playing, in their own styles, to a high quality level.

Battered Soul, an up tempo soul and blues band, is the creation of Shipston High School head of music David Hunt, and with four of the band leaving to join other schools for their A-levels, he has stepped away and the group is now managed by some of the parents notably Aly Packer, mother of keyboard player, Will.

On stage Battered Soul was led by lead singer and guitarist Ben Bryan, with the rest of the band being Gilbert Blocksidge, rhythm guitar, Harry Coupe, bass guitar, Will Packer, organ/piano, Tristan Hoff, drums, Sam Rawles, alto saxophone, and Hector Banks, trombone.

Their repertoire included hits from Otis REading, Eddie Floyd, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Wilson Pickett and Jackie Wilson.

The band won the 2014 Kineton SSC Battle of the Bands contest in 2014.

The support act Delerium, playing a mix of Indie and hard rock, was led by Jonathan Cartledge, singer and rhythm guitarist, along with Tom Penson, lead guitar, Jake Hawkins, bass guitar and Harry Emerson, drummer.

Delerium entertained with their own song, Monochrome, as well as a series of covers from a selection of bands including The White Stripes, Michael Jackson, Foster the People, Nirvana and Arctic Monkeys.

Both bands are looking forward to playing at music festivals throughout 2016.