A BROKEN guitar string didn't stop indie-pop merchants Superjuice from scooping the first round of the DMS Battle of the Bands contest.

Also taking part at Nailsworth's Comrades Club on Saturday were Aisha - who although humorous off-stage have created their own brand of what they call 'post-Interpol gloom' - and mini-monsters of metal Hard-Drive, who are aged between 10 and 11.

It was touch and go as to whether the pint-sized rockers would be able to perform at all - 11-year-old lead singer and guitarist Michael Mackellar-Still was in bed with a temperature of 100F the night before.

But he fought off a bout of flu and the lads played a well-rehearsed set of original songs packed with screeching solos and chunky licks plus Green Day's Holiday.

If there had been a category for most bizarre dress sense it would have certainly gone to Aisha bass guitarist and singer Willhelm North.

With his brown trousers, tweed jacket and pork-pie hat he looked like a cross between a race horse trainer and Pete Doherty.

The band had to borrow their instruments, draft in a drummer from Cardiff University and had one rehearsal.

But they played an engaging set of their own tunes with Mr North and guitarist Knick (CORRECT) Stephenson pouring emotion and feeling into their vocals.

But the evening went to favourites Superjuice, who got the crowd dancing with their jaunty melodies and wah-wah guitar.

Speaking afterwards guitarist Matt Blackie thanked Aisha for lending him a guitar when his string snapped.

"It's a competition so they could have decided not to help us out but they did which showed the true spirit of the evening," he said.

The next round on March 18 features Alibi Thieves, Nations Decay, Qweek and Suicide Crypt.

Whoever wins the final in July gets a week in Cheltenham's Hollow Altar recording studio.