Bands bid for gig in USA - Down Recorder 11th November 09
Local bands who play Irish music are bring offered the chance to perform in Las Vegas.
The Strangford Lough Brewing Company and Monte Carlo Las Vegas Resort and Casino are behind a Battle of the Bands competition with the top prize a chance to play at Diablo’s at the award-winning resort in Vegas.
News of the competition comes as the Killyleagh-based brewing company prepares to launch two of its Irish Ales across North America in the New Year.
The St. Patrick’s Best and Legbiter ales are promoting the band competition and Irish music and celebrating Irish American Heritage.
Strangford Lough Brewing Company representative and band competition organiser Grace Mercer said there are so many good Irish bands around, explaining live music is part of both America and Irish culture.
The competition is open to bands on both sides of the Atlantic and will be hosted on YouTube as the cost of transporting bands across the United States and Ireland would be prohibitive.
Grace continued; “We are contacting about 2,200 Irish bars in the US as well as approximately 800 bands from Ireland and USA to tell them about the competition.”
Steve Drehle, general manager for Diablo’s, said the Monte Carol Resort and Casino is delighted to be associated with the band competition.
He added; “We are always keen to be associated with projects that showcase our town and establishment. This new and innovative competition compliments the profile of Diablo’s completely.”
The competition is open to any band from the United States or Ireland that plays Irish music. To enter, all bands have to do is send Strangford Lough Brewing Company a link to a video of them playing. The email address is gracem@slbc.ie.
Videos can be loaded via YouTube or transferred via Transfer Big Files software with full competition details available at www.slbc.ie.
Entrants must submit a video of their band playing before November 22, with all entries uploaded from November 9 until November 23 when voting begins to decide who will be in the final.
Voting for finalists starts on December 7 with the winner of this innovative online music competition being announced four days before Christmas Day.
