With a grand prize of getting a spot at the Milwaukee and Eau Claire Summerfest music festivals this summer, 16 local and regional bands will sing, strum, and shred until the last cymbal crashes. If you weren’t there last year, the 2008 Battle of the Bands saw 2,200 attendants at the final Water Street showdown where finalists Chester Bay won a spot at Summerfest 2008 and Sawdust City Days. This year the event coordinators, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), are upping the total concert time by two hours (spanning 12:30-8pm), adding handsome Minneapolis rockers Catchpenny as a headlining act and expecting 5,000 attendees throughout the day. Two preliminary rounds take place at UW-Eau Claire’s Higherground (on upper campus), each allowing for eight bands to play a half-hour set. The top two bands from each night, as decided by a panel of judges, move on to a final battle on Water Street. Last year’s winner Chester Bay playing a set at 12:30pm. The winner will perform an encore opening set for special guests Catchpenny, whose 6:30pm rock performance will bring the night to a close. The grand-prize winner will be in good company at Milwaukee’s Summerfest – along with the likes of Bon Jovi, No Doubt, Flogging Molly, and more.

    SIFE Battle of the Bands • (preliminary rounds) April 18 and 25 • Higherground, Crest Wellness Center, UW-Eau Claire • 8pm • 836-6030 // (final battle) May 2 • Water Street Commons Parking Lot, Eau Claire • 12:30-8pm • FREE