Battle of the Bands Saturday

A battle of musical proportions will take place on the stage of Granville High School Saturday evening.

The Granville FFA will host its seventh annual Battle of the Bands at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
Seven regional bands will show off their skills as they compete for the $500 grand prize.

Each band will have the opportunity to perform and FFA members have planned a number of “curtain acts” to engage the audience as the different acts set up.

“There’s no dead time,” said Terry Wheeler, FFA advisor and a business teacher at the high school. “We try and keep the energy up and keep everyone entertained.”

The theme of this year’s event is “School of Rock,” based on the 2003 motion picture starring Jack Black. And while club members are tight lipped about any special guests, there are rumors that Black’s doppelganger may make an appearance on stage.

The event, which is a fundraiser for the FFA, is organized entirely by students, who are responsible for everything from arranging advertising to setting and clearing the stage on Saturday night. Wheeler estimated nearly 50 kids have played a part in organizing the event.

Seth Browe, a member of the club and one of three producers, said preparations began in September.

“The biggest challenge is making each show better than the one before,” he said.

Kathryn Dennison said members began soliciting bands earlier this fall, sending out invitation to previous participants and posting flyers in music shops throughout the region. They also settled on an official logo, made an advertising budget, selected decorations and delegated responsibilities.

Although the event doesn’t have an obvious agricultural connection, Wheeler said the lessons the students learn could be applied to any business venture, including a farm.

“It’s technology, it’s marketing and it’s a lot of coordination,” he said.

This year’s bands include acts from Greenwich, Saratoga Springs, Rutland and Manchester, Vt.

“There are some really great bands,” Wheeler said. “We’re really bringing it back to music this year.”

He said a number of musical genres will be showcased, including classic rock, blues revivalist and alternative rock.

Fans will be able to vote for their favorite act electronically and results will be tabulated almost instantly.

Attendees can also comment on their favorite acts via Twitter and those comments will be displayed on a large screen in the auditorium. The event’s official Twitter handle is @granvilleBOTB2014.

The event, which has sold out four or five times, will help pay for club activities and travel costs to various events, such as state and national conferences.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 by calling the school at 642-1051. Tickets will be available for $12 the night of the event.