Young Bands Invited to Rock the Green

Northbrook will be rockin' this summer, when young musicians perform and compete at Rock the Green: Battle of the North Shore Youth Bands on Friday, June 6 from 6-9pm at Village Green Park. The deadline for bands to enter the showcase and competition is Monday, May 5. This is the fifth year for the free family event, sponsored by the Northbrook Park District, Northbrook Arts Commission and Northbrook Youth Commission.

"Rock the Green welcomes all types of bands from rock to metal, ska, jazz, tribute and more. We love to have a diverse competition," said Drew Kambach, Performing Arts Supervisor with the Park District. "This event offers bands the chance to perform in a unique space for hundreds of people. And, we're adding a third-place prize this year to give more bands the chance to win."

The Grand Prize is $300 and the chance to perform before a Park Fest concert (on June 24) and during Northbrook Autumnfest (on September 27). The second-place prize is $150, and third-place winners will take home $75. Bands also can earn cash prizes for Best Original Song, Best Cover Song and Audience Favorite.

To enter the competition, bands must submit a completed application and a CD, DVD or web link with two recorded songs. Semifinalists will be invited to perform on Thursday, May 15 or Monday, May 19 between 5 and 8pm at the Leisure Center Little Theatre. Each band will have a scheduled time to perform, and all members of selected bands must attend this round to qualify for the finals.

Bands must consist of at least three members, and the musicians cannot be older than 19 years. The semifinal rounds are open to the public, and each band will perform one song or play for a maximum of five minutes before a panel of judges. Afterwards, the judges will choose the bands to compete at Rock the Green.

The band application is available at the Leisure Center and online at nbparks.org (under Events/Forms and Downloads). The application fee is $15 for Northbrook Park District residents and $25 for non-residents. The completed application, demo and application fee are due by May 5 at 5pm and should be sent to:

Drew Kambach

Northbrook Park District

3323 Walters Avenue

Northbrook IL 60062

Anyone who needs more information can email Drew at dkambach@nbparks.org or call 847•291•2995.