a feast of music styles, sees Treetop Flyers emerge as winners

Tonight eight bands would battle it out for a slot on one of Glastonbury's Main Stages in this year's Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition. For many this would be the first time they'd experienced such an evening, where the buzz of a live show was tempered by the fact that they were in a competition where judges would decide their fate, and each waited nervously for that final decision. These acts had been selected by 40 music bloggers from 7,500 submissions, and now had around 20 minutes each to showcase both their music, and live presence to justify a main stage slot.

The night before the competition proper, four acts that hadn't quite made the finals put on a show for locals, and at least one of them ended up securing a slot on one of the Glastonbury Stages. The first band London Afrobeat Collective packed themselves onto the small stage, over a dozen musicians brought us rich funky Afrobeat that sizzled and got the audiences hips swaying. They turn out to be one of the highlights of both days, and it's no surprise they're offered a slot on West Holts.

Subsource are another band that deserve a stage slot, probably more suited to Arcadia, Glade, ShangriLa, or the Dance Village they deliver a live electronic fusion of alt post punk rock and industrial dance, think Pendulum meets PWEI and you're pretty much there. Dancefloor meets crunching basslines, and most of it delivered masterfully live. If my daughter's response is anything to go by, hurriedly sending soundbites to mates from her phone in a teen buzz, they're destined to go far.

By comparison Freddie Dickson, and Kamal Arafa and the Moonlight Band create less sparks. The former has a voice, and a great delivery, think Rod Stewart or Bruce Sringsteen but take away the catchy hooks and sing along lyrics. The latter I rather like whilst perhaps not likely to have a throng of screaming fans leaping up and down in front of them, they had pleasant fiddle and guitar music, and a warm-hearted sound that whilst not enthralling the audience, is the kind of feel good music you'd be happy to remain in a field listening to on a hot summer night, whist chatting to your mates, and drinking cider. The lyrics when I did concentrate on them were well written, thoughtful and quirky. Perfect late night music, one for festivals where the atmosphere created is more important than who's playing.

But that was the previous day, now before nine judges including Michael and Emily Eavis the competition proper begins. Bravely opening the evening is Anna Vincent fronting the five piece indie pop synth outfit My Tiger My Timing. It's a good start and 'This Is Not The Fire', and 'I'll Be Honest' both showcase the band's tight captivating pop rhythms. I'm slightly reminded of the best bits of The Ting Tings without the mind numbing repeat and shout ad infinitum, Anna can sing well, making this a better proposition. There's lots of interesting samples and instrumentation keeping it interesting. However, perhaps showcasing a more diverse palette, as We Have Band did two years ago, could have brought them victory on the night. Certainly they have bags of pop potential and more radio exposure will see crowds happily bouncing to the beats. Surely suited to gain fans who like to bop in the John Peel/The Park type areas of the Festival.

Emily And The Woods is a much more sedate affair, her fantastic voice is showcased solo tonight. The Woods (usually her dad and brother) she explains to me later have gone to the theatre for her brother's birthday, and so 22 year old Emily has enlisted the help of fantastic Nizlopi bassist John Parker to accompany her melancholy folk songs, although for the first song she just enthrals a silent room unaccompanied. Emily's forthcoming single 'Eye To Eye' showcases word-smithing that reminds me of a Suzanne Vega song. Her voice is sure to bring comparisons to Martha Tilston, and 'Steal His Heart' showcases her Laura Marling guitar work, unfortunately she disconnects slightly with the audience between songs. Surely one to take the folk scene by storm, expect to see her in the acoustic tent, Avalon, Croissant Neuf, and the more leafy haunts around the site.

Quartet My First Tooth deliver a cut down 'hoe-down' meets Arcade Fire-esque instrument switching set. Coming from the Levellers side of folk pop, the band take a while to find their stride, but by their third song they're beginning to show glimpses of that spark the judges are seeking. There's pounding drums, frenetic fiddle, a foot tapping bassline, and I could start to imagine them getting the crowd to kick up a dancing dust cloud, with a sing along in Avalon.

Brighton's Twin Brother start well, with a voice that calls up Joy Division and Nick Cave, and dark edgy Americana blues shot through with the occasional nod to Pink Floyd. Alex Wells has an amazing voice for someone so young, give it five years and this lot will be seeking Editors or The National's crown. Perhaps their indie harmonies are more suited to a Reading/Leeds crowd, although they're surely suited to the John Peel tent, and perhaps will be ready for the Other Stage next time Glastonbury rolls around. I rather like it, others consider them yet more indie landfill, but I think they have more in the mix than simply moody guitars.

Next up a surprise, 50's all girl harmony three piece Louise and The Pins. bringing doo wop, great hair, vintage dresses, perfect makeup and gentle songs. Personally I think I prefer them when they add double bass, drums, and electric guitar. A perfect accompaniment on a sunny day with a cider, sure to do well in a Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Imelda May kind of way. It's nice to have a change of gear, and era. Suited to popping up anywhere with some lulling country rockabilly harmonies, and perfect for those late night spots at the festival.

The moment five piece Treetop Flyers start it's clear we're listening to a band that shine. They're music proficiency is head and shoulders above anything else showcased in the competition. This is rockin' folk harmonies with a broken gravel vocal that just oozes class. Forget the popularity of hugely overblown pub folk group Mumford & Sons, this band keep the lush guitar textures of Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Think Fleet Foxes with more bite, it's right up my street.

Tristram are doing something different mixing folk music with Radiohead angled post rock and cellos. They're able to deliver a wide ranging set of songs, directions and speeds crammed into a short set, springing beauty and chaos, although their attempts at haunting and beautiful fell perhaps a little short. Being taken in so many directions also left me feeling like I'd taken a journey across too many underground tube changes, and feeling slightly travel weary. Perhaps, a longer set to showcase their brand of anti-folk, and a few more creative records to develop all these directions, and this lot could impress. Their melancholic moody shades would suit The Park or John Peel.

Five-piece J-Treole come with their own fan club to deliver their jazz styled indie hip hop. They're the only dance act of the night. Using their instruments to deliver drum and bass groove with horns and an MC. They're loud, energetic, and sure to get a tent groovin' at Glastonbury this summer.

The judges disappear off to determine the winner, and return with Michael Eavis taking to the stage to reveal Treetop Flyers as deserving winners, and announces that all of the finalists will get to appear at this summer's Festival.

This competition has a history of picking this kind of alt-folk country-blues guitar flavoured act as winners (see Blackbud, The Dead Beats, The Travelling Band, and Ellen & The Escapades), and Teetop Flyers continue that tradition.

All in all the night was a pretty good showcase of music, I'm not so sure the line-up was chock full of acts who could all be potential festival favourites. I do wonder why there's only ever one act each year that pretty much anyone watching agrees can become festival circuit regulars, it's rarely a close contest. I wanted to see a proper battle of multiple future festival acts, and I'm unsure many of tonight's showcased acts would be happy to spend their summers in a field.

I actually felt the previous evening had offered a better range of musical styles more suited to fit in well at this summer's festival line-ups.

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