Albany Battle of the Bands finalists announced

ALBANY — After months of duking it out in a series of pre-battles around Albany, 10 local bands have emerged as finalists for the upcoming Albany Battle of the Bands finale at Chehaw Park. Artists will have a chance to take home a prize package valued at $5,000 and a possible record deal.

The Battle of the Bands, which began in late January, is organized by local promotional group EGA Productions as a way of showcasing some of the music talent from around the Albany area.

“There are so many artists working hard and wanting to get their voices heard,” said EGA Productions co-owner Steve Owens. “We thought this would be a cool thing to do.”

Owens said that from the start, reception to the Albany Battle of the Bands has been strong and that he’s been pleased with the response the events have gotten from the community. Owens said performers, venue owners and fans alike have all been very enthusiastic about their support, and he admitted that without that kind of positive attitude the event would not have been as successful as it has become.

“The overall competition has been extremely welcomed in the Albany area,” Owens said. “We would like to thank all of our sponsors, contributors, bands and fans for their dedication to helping keep music alive.”

From the very first pre-battle, which featured local favorites Mopeland and Days to Come back in late January, interest in and voting for the various artists were strong. Voting closed at the end of March.

Once the polls closed, both Mopeland and Days to Come emerged as part of the Top 10, along with Wampus Creek, Downtown Disturbance, SouthTown, Ryn and the O.G.s, Cutting Teeth, Torq, Ozell Road and From Dust to Man. Those bands will now take the stage in two weeks for a finale battle royal to crown the 2015 champion.

“It was great to finally see our local artists showcased at the pre-battles, (but) now Albany will have the ultimate chance to see the Top 10 bands of the area get judged by industry professionals and see one band named grand champion,” said Owens.

The professionals mentioned by Owens who will take part in the judging process during the finale are recording artist Scramn Goolsby, known for his association with Colt Ford, songwriter and radio personality Kirsten Underwood, music promoter Austin McAlpin, and Kimberly James, owner of Atlanta’s CBM Records.

The Battle of the Bands finale is scheduled for April 25-26 at Chehaw Park. Saturday’s shows will begin at 3:30 p.m. when first alternate 3CC will kick things off. Following the opener will be Wampus Creek, Downtown Disturbance, Days to Come, SouthTown and Ryn & The O.G.s. Local county favorites Highway 55 will close the day with a special performance.

Sunday’s activities get started at 1:30 p.m. when Jenko will get things going prior to performances from finalists Cutting Teeth, Torq, Ozell Road, From Dust to Man and Mopeland. The presentation of awards will follow Mopeland’s performance, and Unbreakable Bloodline (UBL) will cap off the night with a performance.

Advance tickets to the finale are $10 per day or $20 for the weekend. Advance VIP tickets are also available for $35 each day or $65 for the weekend. There will be an addition charge of $5 for tickets bought at the gate.

In addition to the live music, Owens said the event will also feature a variety of activities for fans of all ages, including a raffle and vendors. EGA will also sell Albany Battle of the Bands and EGA T-shirts, along with a variety of other event merchandise. Owens added that a portion of the event’s proceeds will go to benefit the American Cancer Society and the annual Wakefest GA.

“Bring your lawn chairs and be ready to relax to a full weekend of music,” said Owens. “You won’t find entertainment priced like this.”

To learn more about the Battle of the Bands finale, visit the event’s website at www.albanybotb.com.