NESCol Success

NESCol students win Aberdeen’s Battle of the Bands for second year running

March 5, 2026

A band featuring two College students has won Eruption, a local Battle of the Bands competition, marking the second year in a row that NESCol musicians have claimed the top spot.

The grand finale was held at Krakatoa on 13 February, where four bands performed for the £2000 prize. Kaleidoscope, founded by HND Music student Bryan Duncan, impressed the judges with their high energy set to secure the win.

A total of 35 local bands took part in the contest’s 16 heats last summer. Judges narrowed the bands down to 16 semi-finalists in August, followed by the final four in January: Catnip Chaos, Delirium, Flaxman and Kaleidoscope.

Kaleidoscope is made up of lead singer and guitarist, Bryan; bass player Warren James; drummer Demi Reid, and HND Sound Production student Peter Third, a multi-instrumentalist.

Kaleidoscope on stage at the final.

Kaleidoscope celebrating their win.

Students Bryan and Peter performing.

Kaleidoscope founder Bryan.

Photo credit: Matt Jolly

The band was formed from Bryan’s desire to play his original music, which he described as ‘peace pop’.

He said, “I’ve played in other people’s bands all my life, but I decided I wanted to perform my own songs. At 59, I set myself the goal of playing live 60 times before I turned 60 – and I smashed it!

“This was what started everything. I connected with Warren and Demi, and we became Kaleidoscope – and then we met Peter and became a four-piece. I’m over the moon to play alongside such wonderfully talented musicians.”

This is the second time Peter has won Eruption, having been part of last year’s winning band, the International Space Station.

He said: “I think part of the reason Kaleidoscope won was that the songs are catchy and easy to sing along to. It was a show about the crowd and getting them involved.”

Kaleidoscope plans to use their winnings to record their first album. Follow the band on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with upcoming gigs and listen to their EP on Spotify.