Teen bands can apply now for annual Battle

Naperville high school student rock bands are invited to apply for a spot in the Naperville Park District Youth Ambassadors' 14th annual Battle of the Bands contest.

The event will take place from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 12, at the Community Concert Center in Central Park, 104 E. Benton Ave., Naperville.

Applications and a demo recording via a YouTube link or on a CD or flash drive must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, to be considered. The application is available online at napervilleparks.org/battleofthebands. Bands can email their entries to Fred Gusel at fgusel@napervilleparks.org or mail them or drop them off to Fred Gusel at Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive, Naperville, IL 60540.

Applicants will be notified on or before April 27 about whether their band has been selected as a finalist for the 2017 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.

Second- and third-place finishers will play at the Naperville Park District's Rollin' on the River series on the Riverwalk this summer, and the fourth-place band will perform June 4 at the Frontier Kite Fly Festival, presented by Naperville Moms Network.

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.