For Immediate Release, June 3
Contact: Abbe Sparks, abbesparks@gmail.com, 224.567.9166
High School Bands Get Ready to Rock at 10th Annual Music Competition
Bitter Jester Battle of the Bands Offers $20,000 in combined Cash and Prizes
Highland Park, IL, June 2 – High school bands throughout the Chicago area are gearing up for the tenth annual Bitter Jester Battle of the Bands, which takes place each Friday night in June at Port Clinton Square in Highland Park, June 5, 12, 19 and 26. The grand champion is selected and crowned on July 4 at Wolters Field in Highland Park preceding the City’s fireworks display in front of 3,000 people. Twenty-five bands comprised of teenage musicians ages 13-19, representing 36 diverse Chicagoland communities have been notified of their acceptance for this year’s Battle in the hopes of winning the title of Grand Champion. At stake — $20,000 in combined cash and prizes plus significant exposure via studio recording and photography sessions and performance opportunities including a gig for all winning bands at Navy Pier on July 26th. Winners are selected by a panel of judges comprised of music professionals and radio/TV personalities including Greg Easterling of 97.1 The Drive and Melissa Forman, host of WCIU-TV’s “You and Me This Morning.”
Since its inception in 2006, the Bitter Jester Battle of the Bands has featured 600 teenagers representing over 125 bands – from a 14-person wash-tub band to solo performers and everything in-between – rock, ska, funk, punk, jazz, big band, experimental, and more. Past winners, now out of college like “The Fleeting Suns”, have had much success in the real world. The competition has grown exponentially from 2006, steadily increasing the number of battling bands and even doubling its cash and prizes in just one year (quadrupled since 2013).
“The music festival has grown exponentially since we began, and I’m thrilled to see the kids receive all the accolades and encouragement they so deserve.” – Nicolas DeGrazia, Founder, Bitter Jester Battle of the Bands.
Returning to defend their title are the reigning Grand Champs, XAZZ, who have just completed recording their first CD at The Jam Lab – part of their 2014 Bitter Jester Battle grand prize.
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Who: 10th Annual Bitter Jester Battle of the Bands Music Competition for teens ages 13-19
When: June 5, 12, 19 and 26th from 7:30 – 11:00PM; FINAL BATTLES: JULY 4th from 6:00 -10PM
Where: Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave, Highland Park
FINAL BATTLES on JULY 4: Wolters Field, 1080 Park Ave. West, Highland Park
What: Each June Friday night, six of the best high school bands from the Chicagoland area perform in front of a public audience and a panel of judges. Each winning band becomes a Semi-Finalist. Those bands plus two Wild Card bands (chosen by Bitter Jester Staff) compete in the Grand Finale Concert on July 4 eve at Wolters Field in Highland Park preceding the City’s 4th of July fireworks celebration in front of 3,000 people. Judges select two Finalist Bands. The Grand Champion is then chosen by the audience’s cheers and applause via the official Bluegrass Restaurant Decibel Meter.
Interview OPPS: Battle of the Bands Founder, Nicolas DeGrazia, Battle Contenders. Bands are available to perform for radio and TV
Links: Bitter Jester Battle Reel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrZRLf_bSVY
Bitter Jester Reigning Grand Champs, XAZZ, are defending their 2015 title
JPEGS/VIDEO/AUDIO: Available upon request
Created by four-time Emmy® award-winning Bitter Jester Creative, Battle of the Bands is sponsored by the City of Highland Park plus over three dozen local and Chicagoland businesses. Their donations are used as prizes so that none of the Semi-Finalist Bands go home empty handed.
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