Local band The Jons have been named the winners of Southend's Battle of the Bands.

In a musical spectacular, The Jons saw off competition from Lazarus Rose, Vacant Touch and The Peppermint Apes to win the seven-week competition, organised by Southend Radio 105.1.

The Jons, whose music is described as an infectious blend of bouncy ska, punk and indie, wowed the crowds at Southend's Marine Parade on Saturday night (31 October), with hundreds of fans enjoying their energy-charged performance, and then taking part in a text vote to make them the winners.

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Weston-Super-Mare 3-2 Lewes (17-10-09)
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A 400 mile round-trip by train to Weston-Super-Mare (or WSM as it should universally be known) to see two teams placed 22nd and 23rd respectively in the Conference South. An act of madness or one of inordinately sane men! Click to continue reading...

A record field of over 2,000 runners will take part in this Sunday's annual 10k road race in Southend.
It starts at 10.30am from Southchurch Park in Thorpe Bay. The current race records are 28m 49s (men) and 33m 18s (women). The course is virtually flat and is mostly run along the seafront. Click to continue reading...

It's a packed Bank Holiday of events in Southend this weekend. Here's a rundown of what's on offer:
SATURDAY
It all kicks off on the seafront at 10.30am when 12 Thames Sailing Barges battle it out for various trophies. The majestic vessels race from the Pier Head and Western Esplanade in special competitions. Click to continue reading...

One of Southend's biggest annual events is underway as the town gears up for next Saturday's procession on the seafront.
The popular Chalkwell Park fair runs from today until Saturday 22nd - entrance is £1 for adults (includes 2 children up to 14 free) and 50p for all others. 30,000 people turn up every year - you can download ride vouchers right here. Click to continue reading...

Southend's premier event is less than 24 hours away and thousands of people are beginning to arrive for this year's free airshow.
Longpier.com is producing unrivalled coverage of this year's event, live blogging, Twitter updates and AV content on this website. Click to continue reading...

We're delighted to announce a Longpier.com first to coincide with the borough's premiere event - Southend's Festival of the Air - on Sunday 24th May.
Across the day, Longpier.com will be posting LIVE blog updates, LIVE Twitter updates and LIVE audio/video/photograph updates from Southend's airshow. Click to continue reading...

One of Southend's most remarkable and imposing buildings - the Palace Hotel - is set to reopen in 2009 after it was taken over by the The Rezidor Hotel group.
It will be branded under the middle-market Park Inn hotel set. Yiannis Group is currently redeveloping and refurbishing the massive structure at a cost of £8m. Click to continue reading...

Weston Super Mare pier fire on Monday
When Weston Super Mare's pier burnt down earlier in the week, I immediately thought of our very own pier at Southend.
It's been burnt many times - most recently in 2005, when a pub at the end went up in smoke. It took the council just a month to reopen the pier to visitors, showing the true British spirit of "getting on with things". Click to continue reading...

There's not enough local history on this website is there? Current and future events yes, history no. Well longpier apologises and aims to put it right with this article, looking at the fantastic Zeppelin exhibition currently showing at the Southend Museum on Victoria Avenue. Click to continue reading...

Yes you did read that title correctly. To celebrate the multi-million pound refurbishment of Westcliff Casino, new owners Maxims invited Boney M down to the seafront for a 45-minute set.
With more than a little tongue in cheek NA, PK and I decided to join them for a bit of late 70s action right here in the SS0 postcode. Click to continue reading...