Alternative rock group Apolarbear will represent Flinders and the State at the National Campus Band Competition finals in Canberra next month, where they’ll vie for the $10,000 cash first prize.

The four-piece group – comprising Flinders first-year student Lachlan Keeley on drums, his singer/songwriter/guitarist brother Lucas, Duncan McGregor on bass and Ben Umehara on guitar – recently won the State heat at Fowlers Live ahead of five other bands .

They took home $1000 for their efforts.

Lachlan paid tribute to the other bands, singling out Pseudo-Brand, also representing Flinders, and crowd favourites The Skeleton Club, representing Adelaide Uni.

“I thought they had it sewn up,” Lachlan, who is studying environmental management, said.

“They’re really tight, singing five part harmonies and have a popular folksy feel.”

Rather than an allusion to the environmental movement, Apolarbear resulted from the confusion caused by the band’s actual, original name.

“Lucas, who’s a well-read, eccentric musician, originally called the band Apollinaire after the French poet,” Lachlan said.

“But we finally gave in after a couple of years of people thinking we were called Apolarbear.”

He said that although the band was formed four years ago, it had only recently evolved from a trio gigging at city venues such as Fowlers, Enigma, Jive and the Crown and Anchor to a quartet. Their musical style has shifted away from heavier, experimental progressive rock to a more “radio friendly” pop sensibility, too.

They’ve reworked some of their material, based on feedback from the three judges at the Flinders Uni heat.

“They were awesome. They gave us really good feedback and advice about song structure that was constructive and supportive,” Lachlan said.

Should Apolarbear take out the grand prize, the band plans to go into the recording studio.

“We do have an EP but it’s not a fair reflection of where the band is at now,” he said.

“We’re just a better band.”