North Devon teenagers through to Devon Battle of the Bands final

A reggae-rock classic was among tracks that saw from The Ilfracombe Academy’s student band Cliffhanger make it through to the final of Devon Battle of the Bands 2026.

The Year 11 boys performed Message in a Bottle by The Police as well as other tracks to secure them a place in the grand final at Exeter Phoenix on March 10.

The crowd at North Devon College Performing Arts in Barnstaple were in fine mood as Mentality from Braunton Academy also went through, along with Locked In from Hele's School and eXception from Plympton Academy.

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The annual Devon Secondary Schools Battle of the Bands is run by Devon Education Music Hub and sees up-and-coming young bands from secondary schools and settings across Devon take part, receiving performance feedback from music industry professionals along the way.

Above: Cliffhanger, pictured, will be joined by Braunton Academy band Mentality in the Battle of the Bands final. Credit: The Ilfracombe Academy

Thanks to the support of partners including R&K Studios and Music In Devon Initiative (MIDI), previous participants have gone on to record and release their music professionally, receive radio airplay and perform at major festivals.

Above: Message in a Bottle by The Police was one of the crowd-pleasing tracks that helped Cliffhanger gain a place in the final. Credit: The Ilfracombe Academy

The Ilfracombe Academy, part of Athena Learning Trust, says music at the school gives students opportunities to develop composition and live performance skills, preparing them to perform on bigger stages.

Headteacher Steve Rogers said: “We are incredibly proud of the dedication, talent, and teamwork these students have shown.

“Opportunities like this help our young people build confidence and encourage them to dream big. We wish Cliffhanger the very best of luck as they prepare for the final.”

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