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Bands gearing up for rock battle

Bands get ready to duel for a spot on stage to kick off the Rock the Peach festival.
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Glass Tiger is one of the headlining acts for the Rock the Peach music festival in Penticton this summer that bands will be battling to have their name beside. A compeititon is being held to find an opening night act for the festival which runs July 27 to 29 in King’s Park.

Bands are warming up their guitars and slipping on their boxing gloves as they get ready to duel for a spot on stage to kick off the Rock the Peach festival.

Submissions are being accepted until March 8 for the Rock the Peach Battle of the Bands competition. The winner will get a spot on the main stage opening night of the three day festival in Penticton this July.

“For the Friday night kickoff party we still have the opening slot open and we have been getting so many submissions from bands in the Okanagan and beyond that we thought lets have a battle of the bands. We have had probably 60 submissions already,” said Vanessa Jahnke, one of the Rock the Peach organizers.

There will be 12 bands that will be pre-selected to have the opportunity to audition at the Barking Parrot in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. There will be three rounds of battles with the grand finale taking place on April 6 that will feature the winners of each round.

Each round consists of four bands, performing three songs each. At least two of those songs must be originals and one can be a cover.

“The panel of judges will have a point system to score each band on, but the audience will also have a say through applause,” said Jahnke.

Each of the rounds are being held at the Barking Parrot and those wanting to come and listen are being charged $5 at the door, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to Giving Others a Boost. The non-profit group showcases entrepreneurs or small businesses, wineries, musicians and artists at events held every two months. The proceeds of those functions go directly to charities in the South Okanagan, which are also featured at the events.

Jahnke said there are about three slots left to fill the three-day Rock The Peach festival lineup. Most recently Jesse Cook was announced. The Juno winning guitarist has been amazing people with his technique for years.

“I’m so excited for him. He is so amazing and such an amazing performer,” said Jahnke.

The Friday lineup has The Steadies, Treble Charger and Collective Soul so far. On Saturday Good For Grapes, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Three Dog Night, War and Sam Roberts Band are scheduled. The final day of the festival features Ridley Bent, Walk Off The Earth, Glass Tiger, Jesse Cook and Ronnie Dunn (from Brooks and Dunn).

Submissions for Battle of the Bands can be sent to info@rockthepeach.ca, or by dropping off your CD at the Rock the Peach office at #209-212 Main St.

Battle of the Bands audition nights

Round 1: March 15

Round 2: March 22

Round 3: March 29

Grand Finale: April 6

*Battles start at 8 p.m. each night at the Barking Parrot