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Courtesy of St. Louis County Library
A band performs in last year's Battle of the Bands competition. This year, five bands will have opportunity to perform live at the final on July 9.
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Courtesy of St. Louis County Library
Judges at the live show evaluate musical ability, originality and stage presence to determine the grand prize-winner.
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Courtesy of St. Louis County Library
The top band will receive $250 and the runner up will receive $150.
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Courtesy of St. Louis County Library
To be eligible for the competition, bands must have at least two members, at least half of those members must be 18 or under, and at least one member must hold a valid library card.
Young musicians will be getting loud at the library when they compete for cash and bragging rights in St. Louis County Library’s 7th annual Battle of the Bands. The contest is part of STArt @ Your Library, which offers interactive events to get kids and teens engaged and interested in science, technology, and art.
The Battle of the Bands is just another example of how libraries offer more than just books and internet access, says Sarah Wood, SLCL’s assistant manager of youth services.
“We feel that giving youth participants a venue and occasion for performing goes along with the library's mission of providing opportunities for learning and skill development to support individual growth,” she says.
To be eligible, bands must have at least two members, at least half of those members must be 18 or under, and at least one member must hold a valid library card. The competition's first phase requires bands to submit one family-friendly song—by providing lyrics and a link to an MP3 file or YouTube performance—to an online voting contest.
Courtesy of St. Louis County Library
The library will accept entries through June 5, and the online voting period runs from June 13–27. The top two critics’ choice picks and the three bands who garner the most online votes will perform the song they submitted, plus other family-friendly tunes, at the Battle of the Bands final on July 9.
“The judges are all musicians, and they provide each band with feedback after the competition. The event is also a chance for the community to gather and enjoy a shared experience, another part of the public library's role,” Wood says. “This is the seventh year for the contest, and it's gratifying to see members of opposing bands cheer each other on and even help each other out, either with equipment or music questions.”
Judges evaluate musical ability, originality and stage presence to determine the grand prize-winner. The top band will receive $250, and the runner up will receive $150.
