Rowan Blues and Jazz Society presents the the final round of Battle of the Bands this Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the LGAC Black Box Theater, 407 N. Lee St.
Top prize will be two days in a recording studio with producer Jerod Jacobs. The runner-up will receive gift certificates from event sponsor Music and More in Concord.
The competition was open to bands of all musical genres, and submissions came from throughout North Carolina. Six finalists were chosen. Each will perform three songs this Saturday night.
The winner will be determined by a panel of judges in several categories including technical skill, originality, crowd response, stage presence and songwriting.
Finalists are:
Jeremy Vess of Salisbury, acoustic alternative rock. Group members are Jeremy Vess acoustic guitar, lead vocals; Jeremy Mullis, lead guitar; Evan Sheets, bass guitar; Dominic Geralds, drums, Michael Anthony Roseman, back-up vocals, percussion, guitar. (www.myspace.com/jeremyvess.)
Jeremy Hopkins and The Thrillacoustic alternative rock. Members are Jeremy Hopkins, vocals, guitar; Jeremy Mullis, electric guitar; Evan Sheets, bass; and Dominic Geralds, drums. (www.myspace.com/jeremyhopkins).
Jimmy Alston ó Double J, smooth jazz. Guitarists Jimmy Alston of Salisbury, and his nephew Jerry Alston of Louisville will be joined by Jimmy’s wife, vocalist Leslie Alston.
Trappers, Traders and Mountainmen indie rock band from Salisbury, consists of A-Town drums; Ryne, vocals,guitar; Jake, guitar; and Shaun, bass. (www.myspace.com/trapperstradersmountainmen).
Ten More Years southern rock. Members are James Brickey, lead guitar, lead vocals; Johnathon Sale, drums, Justus Brickey, bass, back up vocals.[Two of the members are 14 and the bassist is only 12. There was no age limit for entering the competition.] (www.myspace.com/tenmoreyearsband).
Fire for Effect alternative Christian rock. Members are Vincent Baynard, guitar, vocals; Jimmy Marshall, guitar; Mitchell Sutton, bass; Matthew Jordan, drums; and Michelle Jordan, vocals. (www.fireforeffect.org).
Judges will be: Bob Paolino, winner of the Charlotte Blues Society’s 2009 Blues Challenge; Marc Hoffman, film music composer, vocalist, performer, jazz pianist, owner of Salisbury School of Music; Jesse Reaves, singer, songwriter, guitarist and rock music columnist; and Eleanor Qadirah, founder of Rowan Blues and Jazz Society.
Admission is $6 in advance, $8 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Literary Book Post, 119 S. Main St.; the Looking Glass Artist Collective Shop, 405 N. Lee St; or online at www.salisburyartists.org/marchhare.