Entries due April 11 for Naperville Battle of the Bands

Naperville high school student rock bands are invited to apply for a spot in the Naperville Park District Youth Ambassadors' 13th annual Battle of the Bands contest. The event will take place from 4:30-8 p.m. on Friday, May 6, at the Community Concert Center in Central Park, located at 104 E. Benton Ave.

Applications and a demo recording via a YouTube link or on a CD or flash drive must be received by 4 p.m. on Monday, April 11, 2016 to be considered. The application form can be accessed online at www.napervilleparks.org/battleofthebands. Bands can email their entries to Fred Gusel at fgusel@napervilleparks.org or mail them or drop them off at the Naperville Park District Administration Building in downtown Naperville. The mailing address is: Fred Gusel, Naperville Park District, 320 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville, IL 60540.

Applicants will be notified on or before April 15, 2016 about whether their band has been selected as a finalist for the 2016 Battle of the Bands.

The first place winner will perform at Ribfest at a time to be determined and will advance to the Illinois Park District Association's Regional Battle of the Bands with a chance to perform at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

The second and third place finishers will play at the Naperville Park District's Rollin' on the River series on the Riverwalk in July. Additionally, this year, the second place band will open at the Barn Farewell Celebration on Saturday, June 4, also featuring Nepenthe, a band from the Barn's early years, and OMT.

The Youth Ambassadors is a group of high school students who work with the Naperville Park District to plan communitywide special events for teens each year.