By Bridget Cook
YOUNG local bands have the chance to battle it out in a competition in Casey this month.
The City of Casey and Spectrum Entertainment will host the FReeZA Push Start Battle of the Bands competition, with heats starting tomorrow.
The competition offers Casey’s young and emerging performers, aged between 15 and 21, the chance to compete against other local bands.
Tomorrow’s opening heat will be held at Cranbourne Public Hall, heat two will be on Friday 13 July at the Narre Warren Community Learning Centre and the final will be on Friday 27 July at the Cranbourne Public Hall.
City of Casey mayor Sam Aziz said Battle of the Bands was a great opportunity for young musicians and future stars to showcase their talents.
“This annual competition is always keenly contested in the City of Casey as we are fortunate to have some talented young musicians living in our city,” he said.
“We are also lucky to have such a motivated group of young people who form the Spectrum Entertainment Committee and organise this and other exciting events for their peers.”
Winners of the competition will represent the City of Casey in the Southern Metropolitan Regional Final, with the winner of that going on to the state final, to be held during Push Over 2013.
Prizes are up for grabs in the competition, including a recording/rehearsal package courtesy of Pony Music, vouchers from Vox Music Academy and rehearsal sessions in the new band room at The Factory.
The heats and the final are fully supervised, being drug, alcohol and smoke-free events.
Tickets are available at the door, $8 with a pass and $10 without a pass.
Passes are available at Cranbourne Youth Information Centre, Hampton Park Youth Information Centre, Casey 360 Mobile Youth Information Centre or City of Casey
Customer Services Centres.
For more information on the 2012 Battle of the Bands visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/freeza/
Competing bands must not have a current recording contract, publishing or distribution deal.