Calling all bands and artists!

Your chance to take the stage and show your skills is on 27th November 2008, at the first Cornerstone Festival Battle of the Bands! The finalists of the day’s battle (perform a NYC cover and 2-3 originals) compete in the evening to be the 'Best of The Cornerstone Festival 2008'.

All bands will be interviewed live on Radio Hope from the festival - with live acoustic versions perfomed on air.

The competition is open to all and aims to support and promote the best of Liverpool’s up and coming bands.

A guest panel will judge the entries throughout the afternoon (from 2pm, free) where bands play a cover version by an artist or band associated with New York. Finalists will be selected to perform in the first of the festival’s live Band Nights (8.30pm, £4).

The final is judged by a special guest panel who will announce the winning band and present the £100 cash prize.

To enter: BECOME A FRIEND OF http://www.myspace.com/cornerstonefestivalbattle and we will send you more information.

You will need to work out a cover version of song by an artist or band associated with New York, Liverpool-New York is a key theme of this year's CSF. Alternatively you can come along and watch the competition!

In mid October Radio Hope ran a series of events for Amnesty International’s Protect the Human Week. It was a big success.

Each day we held free talks given by Amnesty International campaigners on their specialist areas including Humans Rights and Business, Violence Against Women, Terrorism, Children's Rights and Palestine's New Apartheid. These talks were eye opening and emotional in equal measure. We hope the students and staff who attended will become active in their desire to end human rights violations.

The aim of the events was to raise money as well as awareness and the week was rounded off by a big party in the Derwent Bar. And what a fabulous night it was. Over 200 students turned up to enjoy two live bands, a comedy act and a disco provided by Radio Hope until 1am. The Comedy Store's Slaughterhouse Live sketch team kicked off the night with a hilarious and interactive sing-along before the mighty Black Ties took to the stage. The band comprising of Craig, Mike and Danny - three former Hope music students - are without a doubt the best covers band you will ever see and got people dancing almost immediately. Then there was the amazing GK & The Renegades. This band from Liverpool blew the place apart with a set packed with first class indie-pop corkers. This is a band that, if there is any justice, will be huge.

The night raised just over £400 for Amnesty International and we would like to thank the SU, Bishop Ian (for sanctioning the late bar), the bands and all the Amnesty International Speakers for making Radio Hope’s Protect the Human week such a success.