For aspiring musicians, little is more exciting than playing on stage in front of a crowd there to listen to your music. For the fourth year, Beaconsfield’s Battle of the Bands will be back giving young musicians a chance to show off their stuff.
“It’s amazing to see. When you look at the crowd, you have everyone from a three-year-old whose big brother is playing, to grandparents in the crowd. It gets the community out,” said Kate Holland, animator at the Beaconsfield Recreation Centre. “It’s always been really great kids who participate. And a lot of talent.”
The 2008 edition of Battle of the Bands will take place at Centennial Park on June 27, as part of Beaconsfield’s Heritage Days celebrations. The performances will be scored by volunteer judges, with prizes going to the winning bands.
The Superstitions, a three-member band influenced by many different genres, will compete in the Battle of the Bands for their third time this year.
“It’s fun. It’s outside. There are a lot of people,” said guitarist and Macdonald High School student Victoria Turner, 16. “You never know who’s going to show up and see you. It’s good exposure.”
In addition to putting on a good show with great music, Holland said the Battle of the Bands really shows what young people in the community are capable of.
“People have a certain view of that age group (adolescents), and most of that view is them hanging out at the depanneur or McDonalds, participating in things we don’t necessarily consider good things,” she said. “The (Battle of the Bands) gives them a chance to see what kids are doing. It takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication to put together a band.”
The registration deadline for the Battle of the Bands has been extended to June 20. Forms are available at the Beaconsfield Library, the Recreation Centre, and online at www.beaconsfield.ca.
The Battle of the Bands will take place in Centennial Park, 288 Beaconsfield Blvd.., on June 27 at 6 p.m.
It’s always been really great kids who participate. And a lot of talent. -
