Local teen bands to battle at Taste

The musical lineup at the Taste of Chicago this year includes Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Bonnie Raitt - and a bunch of teens from the Northwest suburbs.

Five bands, including two from local suburbs, will take the stage Friday at Grant Park as part of the festival's high school battle of the bands contest.

Suburban bands District Somnium and Thabor were selected from a pool of nine groups that submitted demo CDs to Taste organizers.

A panel of three judges selected the five final bands based on presentation, creativity, artistic merit and overall performance, city events coordinator Ivy Hall said.

Thabor members Alex Bracy, 16, of Cary; Kyle Dorsey, 16, of Cary; George Burrows, 16, of Cary; Eric Myers, 17, of Huntley; and Andy Barnett, 15, of Fox River Grove will play before their largest audience ever at the Taste.

"I just love playing," Bracy said. "It's bigger than we usually play. But to be honest, I'm more excited than nervous."

Bracy describes the band's sound as "pretty hard rock metal sounding."

Members of alternative rock band District Somnium attend Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora.

The battle begins at 4 p.m. on the Fun Time Stage.