PLUS: FINAL OF THREE BANDS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT WEDNESDAY’S
BATTLE
Gold Coasters have one
last chance to show support for their favourite local bands and help push them
through to the Grand Final of Hard Rock Rising, Hard Rock’s Global Battle of
the Bands Competition which gives local musicians the chance to ‘rock out’ in
the world’s biggest battle of the bands.
The annual Hard Rock Rising encourages bands throughout the world to enter and compete against other bands for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be flown to London and perform on stage at Hard Rock Calling, play on a world tour in six cities with all expenses paid, make an album, record a music video and win new equipment valued at $10,000.
Hard Rock in Surfers
Paradise is one of only two venues in Australia participating in the world-wide
competition, giving Gold Coast musicians a real shot at taking out the prize.
This year saw a record
number of 71 bands from the Gold Coast enter the competition, up from 66 bands
in 2012.
The competition has
been fierce between local bands. Proud
heat winners have been announced with Gold Coast heavy metal outfit ‘The Black
Swamp’ winners of Heat One which took place on 28 February and laid back and
melodic funk, reggae due ‘Hans Solo’ taking first place for Heat Two which took
place on 6 March.
Heat Three which takes
place this Wednesday night at the Hard Rock Surfers Paradise will be a big one
with some local favourites taking the stage to battle it out for the last place
left in the grand final. Local girl
pop-rap band ‘Sneeky Picnic’ who recently played at the Big Day Out Gold Coast
will be bringing their crowd of followers as will the eclectic group from
Miami, Gold Coast known as ‘The Midnight Antics’. To complete the line-up gold coast band, ‘Mayan
Fox’ will bring their high energy show
to the stage and attempt to grab the final place for themselves!
and heavy metal band ‘The
Black Swamp’ are currently in the lead, with hundreds of votes already cast
through Hard Rock Surfers Paradise Facebook page.
Hard Rock Surfers Paradise General Manager Paul McNally said three heats will be held where the winners of the public vote will play and be judged by a panel of top industry professionals, before heading to the grand final.
“We’ve secured some top industry judges for our three heats and the winners from each three heats will then rock off at the Hard Rock Rising Grand Final in Surfers Paradise in front of large crowds of supporters and music lovers, giving bands an energetic concert-feel to perform in front of,” he said.
“We are excited to
announce that this year’s judging panel includes industry professional Guy
Cooper who is a music producer, manager and label owner. Plus we have Ross Williams, a Griffith
University lecturer in popular music who has extensive experience in record
label A&R and as a professional touring muso.”
“Rounding off the panel
is true local rocker Jeff Hoad, who as lead singer of Kings of the Sun, toured
the world with KISS and Guns & Roses,” he said.
The Gold Coast winner
of Hard Rock Rising will get to perform live on the beach at the 2013 Surfers
Paradise Festival’s Hard Rock Rocks the Beach April 6, among a stellar line-up
of international acts.
They will then be
judged against local winners around the world, with the winners of Hard Rock
Rising world-wide winning an a slot on the bill for Hard Rock Calling in
London, an international tour performing in Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, London,
Chicago and Honolulu (example locations only), a recording contract with Hard
Rock Records, album and video recording and new band gear valued at US$10,000.
This is Hard Rock
Surfers Paradise’s second year hosting Hard Rock Rising with the event
previously attracting over 15,000 entrants world-wide and showcasing some of
the country’s best undiscovered talent.
“We’re so excited to be involved again this
year as it takes us back to good live music at its heart where bands compete to
be the best and audiences are flooded with the sweet sounds of rock and roll,”
said Mr McNally.
Gold Coasters can vote
by downloading their favourite band’s song, for free, from the Hard Rock
Surfers Paradise Facebook page.
Hard Rock Rising Dates
·
Heat Three – Wednesday 20 March 2013
·
Grand Final – Wednesday 27 March 2013
The industry judging panel will be Ross Williams, Guy Cooper and Jeff
Hoad.
For additional information please visit www.facebook.com/hardrockcafesurfersparadise or call Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise on (07) 5539 9377.
