It was a case of third time lucky for the Forster trio, who’ve been in arm’s reach of the prize as second placegetters the previous two years.

“It was about time,” bass guitarist Kallan Bragg said with a laugh.

Trialling their new song, Already Came, the band got the approval they’d been hoping for.

“The crowd went nuts. We were playing just as the sun was going down and heaps of people just got up to dance.”

Their enthusiasm was matched by the judges who said Respect Sunday had made a “one hundred per cent improvement from last year,” with their smooth licks and professionalism getting them over the line.

“I really enjoyed it lads. Big sound,” judge, Phil Ridley said after the set.

For their efforts Respect Sunday took home a $1000 cash prize with Wingham four-piece TAB and Taree’s Struck, nipping at their heels in second and third spots.

Steadily growing in size, this year’s Battle of the Bands held at the Old Bar Beach Festival, attracted an estimated 500 people – a major jump on the 150 that attended last year’s event.

“Yeah it was quite good, I was surprised because I thought all the rain would have put a dampener on things but the kids got up and danced and had a really good time,” Homebase youth development worker Sarah Brooker said.

Of the nine bands vying for their spot atop the battle podium, the winner gave special mention to a little know Rainbow Flat group.

“It was really good there were a lot of good bands, actually the Rainbow Flat Gumnuts was one - they’re so funny, they write songs about the Rainbow Flat Servo, they were really good,” Bragg said.

Respect Sunday will record their new ep in Byron Bay this week.