Yellowknife (July 21/06) -It's amazing what a change in venue can do.

Last week, nearly a dozen young bands proved age is no boundary during the Rock the Folks battle of the bands, set on the festival's main stage. The acts took advantage of the stage's booming sound in front of

Drowning Julie vocalist Mikol Kowalcyzk screams along with Yellowknife fans during Drowning Julie's set at this year's Rock the Folks. The well-attended show saw over a dozen local acts vie for a shot at the left stage of Folk on the Rocks. - Adam Johnson/NNSL photo

Melodic-rockers the Greasy Twigs took first place for the second year in a row, earning another shot at Folk on the Rocks - an afternoon slot at the festival's left stage.

This time around, however, the band won something more. Just days before the competition began, Folk on the Rocks announced this year's winner would also receive a recording bursary worth $1,000.

According to Folk on the Rocks president Glen Abernethy, the bursary would be given to the band after they recorded in a "recognized" studio.

"If they get an invoice, we give them the $1,000," Abernethy explained before the contest.

The show also featured strong sets from Westervert, Floppy Disk Drive, Pandora's Bliss, Kimberlite Pipes and others.

Pop-punk act Westervert was represented by guitarist/vocalist Noel Taylor, who played a number of acoustic tunes, followed by solo performance on the stage's drum kit.

"Look for us in Edmonton, because that's where we'll be," he said after his set, giving some not-so-subtle hints about the band's future plans.

The Greasy Twigs made their second Folk on the Rocks appearance on Sunday afternoon. The band, consisting of guitarist/vocalist Bryce Styan, drummer Walter Girrior and keyboardist Brendan Callas, played to a small, but appreciative crowd.

With two years of experience under their belts, Callas said the band plans to apply to play at the festival next year. But first, the band has plans to use their recording grant, as well as the 10 hours of recording time they won at Music in the Park.

"Those two together make for a good August of recording," Callas said.