By Steven Hoskins, Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — Let’s have a battle, a battle of the bands.
This April 24, LLCC will hold its sixth Battle of the Bands competition at 6 p.m. in the Trutter Center, said Michelle Berger, student engagement coordinator.
The event will include nine bands, and it is free to attend, Burger said. Competing bands have the chance to win cash prizes of $500, $250 or $100.
Each band will have 10 minutes for setup and 15 minutes to perform.
The schedule of performance based on performance start times is:
- 6:10 p.m.: On Point
- 6:35 p.m.: Automatic Afterthought
- 7 p.m.: Jack and the Crew
- 7:25 p.m.: Built in a Day
- 7:50 p.m.: Kickstart
- 8:15 p.m.: Fill in the Blank
- 8:40 p.m.: The Light Home
- 9:05 p.m.: Bad Banshee
- 9:30 p.m.: Wanna
People’s choice ballots are due by 9:50
p.m., and the winner will be announced at 10 p.m.
Last year’s battle was a huge success with eight bands competing, including a solo acoustic act by Geoff Leathers, which Burger notes was a big crowd pleaser.
“We also had three bands — Built in a Day, Negative 17 and The Blind Social — with female lead singers,” Burger said.
Bands come from Lincoln Land, as either current students or alumni. At least one member be a current or former student of LLCC, Burger said.
There is no criteria for a band. A student can play any instrument.
Competitors will need to keep it work safe, with no vulgarity or profanity. They will also no have an entry fee.
The event began in 2009. It was canceled in 2013 for lack of participation.
The Battle of the Bands is sponsored by the Loggers Activities Board and Student United Way of LLCC. Proceeds go to the United Way of Central Illinois.
The event will be free to attend. Once can buy a commemorative T-shirts.
The event have several door-prizes and free popcorn and soda.
A three-judge panel will determine the winner based on stage presence, vocals, instruments, appropriateness (keeping the act clean) and crowd response.
Bands can earn up to 30 points from the judges.
The crowd will also help with voting.
Each audience member will get a ballot at the entrance. The top vote-getter will receive 30 points, second 25, third 20, fourth 15, fifth 10, and sixth 5.
Donations will be accepted for the United Way of Central Illinois.
Jars for each band will be set up for the audience to donate. The band can solicit donations early.
The band that raises the most money will receive 20 points, second place 15 points, and third place will get 10.
A band can earn up to 80 points.
Steven Hoskins can be reached at (217) 786-2311 or [email protected].
This was published in the April 15, 2015, edition of The Lamp.
