Battle of the Bands to be family friendly

Music groups wishing to battle for the top spot at Lakeside High School's Battle of the Bands will need to sign up by Feb. 15.

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The semiannual competition will take place 6-10 p.m. Feb. 27 in the school commons area.

Five bands have shown interest in competing, and the show can accommodate eight groups playing 30-minute sets, said event organizer Amy Cooter.

"We welcome all genres of music," she said.

To battle, at least one band member must attend a Columbia County school and provide their own equipment and pay a $25 entry fee. Also, lyrics must be deemed appropriate and will be reviewed before the event.

The winner can choose between a cash prize and playing a live show at Sector 7G, an all-ages Augusta club.

The previous Battle of the Bands took place in October and resulted in a tie between Roselyn and Open Casket Smile.

"I think it was one of the largest crowds we've had in a long time," Cooter said. "It was just packed."

Cooter noted the success of past winners, such as Glass Bottom Boat, Midnight Society, and Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley, two-thirds of the country group Lady Antebellum.

The concert is open to children so long as they are accompanied by an adult.

"I wanted to keep it more family oriented to where all kids could come and see their brothers and sisters," Cooter said.

The concert is organized by Lakeside's Parent-Teacher Student Organization and serves as the primary fundraiser for the school.

Admission tickets cost $5 and can be used as votes for the crowd's favorite band.

"They can have one vote per admission ticket," Cooter said. "That keeps it fair, so it's not really a popularity contest."

The concert showcases the camaraderie among band members of different groups, she said.

"It's a competition, but really, it's not," she said. "It's just a jam session. They're just so very oriented towards fun."

For information or to register to compete, contact Cooter at lunalady888@aol.com.