The anticipation had been building up since early this May, it reached its apotheosis on 9^th July as the 5 bands went mano-a-mano for the final.

Eventual champions, Noughts & Exes, took the stage first with their carefully-crafted set of unique folk-pop, enrapturing everyone present. eli followed with their broody indie rock, mixing newer originals with old favourites.  Then everyone in the audience had their respective bells rung (and how) by Shotgun Politics, whose rock-n-rollicking set saw some impassioned dancing up front.  The3Think, a band with some of the most dedicated fans (with customized LED fancards) around, charmed the audience with some light-rock stylings.  Retox'D ended the competition with really danceable hip-hop beats that got the whole crowd going.

All this was witnessed by a record crowd of above 300 people in Backstage, and was judiciously overseen by a panel of judges.

The moment of reckoning elicited some very emotional reactions and a lot of cheering from the crowd, as Noughts & Exes was declared the band to represent China (and Hong Kong) at the Envol et Macadam festival in Canada.

Says Chris B, organizer of Planetrox China, "It wasn't about being the best band.  We all are proud of this night, because every band played great music.  Hong Kong bands have certainly proven they have something to say and they can say it with style."

Gideon So, from Noughts & Exes reacts: "We're stoked and shocked to win the Planetrox China final over the weekend.  A real honour to represent Hong Kong and China in the Great White North. Thanks everyone for the massive support and thanks Planetrox and The Underground for the opportunity. We'll do our best to represent HK indie well"

Noughts & Exes already have a busy summer planned; they will be playing at Midi Festival in Shandong Province in August, as well as touring Malaysia & Singapore with a slot at Baybeats Festival. This win and the opportunity to perform will be the icing on their September-cake.

 

Envol et Macadam

An urban festival featuring outdoor concerts and live indoor shows in downtown Quebec City venues since 1996.  Each year over 25,000 people attend and it's also an ECO-FRIENDLY event with on-site-recycling, recyclable cups, reusable bags etc.
This year's headliners include Rise Against and Flogging Molly.

http://www.envoletmacadam.com/en/festival/

Planetrox
 A worldwide music competition, whose mission is to discover the best new bands and expose them to a wider international audience. In 2011, Envol et Macadam is expanding its ties to the rest of the world and hitting it with a big bang: alternative bands from 15 different countries will win the chance to play at the Envol et Macadam Festival in Quebec City, Canada in September 2011.

本地樂圈自5月初便熱切期待Planetrox China 2011盟主的誕生，7月9日晚上5隊入圍樂隊的終極對碰，為整個比賽掀起高潮！

決賽由最終摘下冠軍的Noughts & Exes打頭陣，樂隊以其獨樹一幟、精心琢磨的folk-pop樂曲，俘虜了全場樂迷的耳朵。接著上場的eli演出一系列新舊歌曲，盡顯其indie rock功架。Shotgun Politics硬橋硬馬的搖滾樂令不少樂迷手舞足蹈，牽動現場氣氛。The3Think則帶來一班忠心粉絲，高舉LED燈牌為樂隊吶喊助威，樂隊的light-rock風格亦迷倒不少樂迷。Retox'D壓軸登場，以好玩好跳的hip-hop節奏，帶動全場樂迷一起熱舞。

當晚全場迫爆，超過300位樂迷與專業評審團一同在Backstage見證冠軍誕生的一刻。參賽樂隊演出完畢後，由特別嘉賓F.B.I.接捧獻技，以他們精彩的演出來紓緩在場樂迷等待宣佈賽果時的緊張氣氛。最後大會宣佈Noughts & Exes脫穎而出，現場氣氛熾熱激動，歡呼聲此起彼落。勝出的Noughts & Exes將代表中國(及香港) 參與加拿大Envol et Macadam音樂節。

Planetrox China主辨人Chris B表示：「這不單純是關於比賽，為了決定哪一隊是最佳樂隊。我們都為今晚的決賽感到驕傲，因為每一隊樂隊的演出都非常出色。香港的樂隊證明了他們言之有物，並能以屬於自己的風格表現出來。」

Noughts & Exes的成員Gideon So說：「我們對於能在Planetrox China中勝出感到非常興奮及意外。有機會在加拿大代表中國及香港演出，實在是我們的榮幸。我們非常感激大家的支持，以及Planetrox 和The Underground給予我們機會。我們一定會全力以赴，把香港獨立音樂最好的一面展現出來。」

Noughts & Exes今個夏天可謂馬不停蹄 - 樂隊將於8月赴山東參演迷笛音樂節，及於馬來西亞和新加坡巡迴演出，包括出演新加坡的Baybeats Festival，可說是為9月在Envol et Macadam音樂節的演出作好熱身準備。

Envol et Macadam音樂節

始於1996年，為加拿大魁北克市一年一度的音樂節，每屆均於市內不同場地舉行室外及室內的音樂會，每年吸引超過25,000人參加。音樂節亦積極推動環保，於場內設廢物回收再造，並使用可循環再用的餐具、袋等。今屆的重量級演出樂隊包括Rise Against 及Flogging Molly.

http://www.envoletmacadam.com/en/festival/

Planetrox
 PLANETROX是一項世界性的音樂比賽，其任務是發掘最佳新樂隊，並把他們帶到國際舞台。 2011年，Envol et Macadam音樂節將擴大至世界其他地區，衝擊國際音樂版圖：來自15個不同的國家的另類樂隊將能夠報名參加PLANETROX選拔賽，並有機會在9月於加拿大魁北克市舉行的Envol et Macadam音樂節演出。

USEFUL LINKS 

有 用 連結

有用連結

Besides our cool website.....
除了我們的網站以外......

Myspace Page

Chris B Twitter

Melding jazz, R&B, blues, Motown and rock into a unique musical experience...devoid of guitar.

The Underground music channel on HKGFM.net

Where can you go to listen

to cool bands from around

the world such as Band of Skulls, e-god, Kasabian, Galaxy Express,

AS WELL AS our own

great bands such as

Dark Himaya,

Brothers of Roadkill, Six Pack of Wolves,  Gong Wu, Thinking Out

Loud and Corey Tam?

在哪裡我們可以聽到全世界最精彩的樂

隊表演，如Band of Skulls, e-god, Kasabian，還有我們本地出色的樂隊如Dark Himaya, Brothers of Roadkill, Six Pack of Wolves, Gong Wu, Thinking

Out Loud 和 Corey Tam 呢？

當然是在HKGFM.net 裡的 The Underground Music Channel 了！

We're talking about The

Underground channel at

HKGFM.net.   They feature

alternative bands as well as

unsigned bands and of

course bands from The Underground Compilation CDs.   They also have other stations for your other

moods. 

CHECK IT OUT NOW!

這個電台頻道播放另類樂隊、獨立樂隊、和在The Underground 的雜錦碟裡收錄了的樂隊歌曲。

HKGFM.net 還有其他不同精彩的音樂頻道去配合你不同的心情需要。