MAD to host battle of the bands in August

First-ever event to award cash prizes, promo package and booking to winners

The Murphy Arts District is switching from simply hosting bands to trying to find the next great regional group through its first-ever MAD Battle band competition in August.

According to a news release, all qualifying bands can register, with the MAD Battle Committee selecting the top 10 to advance to the battles themselves. In order to register, each band must submit a band logo, photos and member bios, including musical background and contact information. Submissions must include one cover song, including audio and video files. In order to perform, bands must have at least one cover song in their 15-minute set on Aug. 9.

Bands that have previously played at MAD are not eligible for the battle.

The MAD Battle, sponsored by the Arkansas Times and Noalmark Broadcasting Company, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at the First Financial Music Hall at the Griffin, with doors opening at 5 p.m. Each of the 10 finalists will have a 15-minute set and a team of judges will determine which groups will make the top five, who will advance to the next day’s performance. The top five winners will be announced at the Aug. 9 show.

On Aug. 10, doors will open at 5 p.m. with the show beginning at 6:30 p.m. The five remaining bands will each have a 20-minute set, with the winners being announced after the show.

Prizes are:

• $100 for best vocals;

• $100 for best instrumentalist;

• $100 for best showmanship; and

• $2,500 for best overall, who will also receive a promo package put together by the production/marketing team and a guaranteed booking at the Griffin.

The bands will be judged by a four-person team. Judges include:

Terry Stewart, CEO of MAD. Stewart was the longest-running president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, serving from 1999 through the end of 2012. In 1989, he joined Marvel Entertainment Group. During his eight years at Marvel, he served as president and chief operating officer and later as vice chairman.

Bijoux, a native of Little Rock and a sultry soul singer adept in various styles. The daughter of West African parents, Bijoux grew up in a household exposed to differing genres of music including folk, classic rock ‘n’ roll, makossa, country and R&B. She has been onstage at MAD with the Rodney Block Collective.

Stephanie Smittle, culture editor for the Arkansas Times and an advocate for Arkansas’ rich history of musicians and artists. Smittle performs Ashkenazic folk music with Meshugga Klezmer Band and southern sludge metal with Iron Tongue and songs of politics. She has recorded two albums of genre-hopping original material with The Smittle Band and has sung the role of Fiordiligi in Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” with Opera in the Ozarks.

Caleb Burger, operations manager of Noalmark Broadcasting Corporation who also has a vinyl collection.

Tickets go on sale to MAD members at 10 a.m. May 1. The general public can buy tickets beginning at 10 a.m. May 3. Spectator individual tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the show. Two-day ticket packages are $15 in advance and $25 the day of the show.

For bands looking to participate in the Battle, registration fees are $25 through May 17, $35 from May 18 through June 21 and $45 on the last day to register, which is June 22. To register, fill out a band registration form at eldomad.com.

Madeleine Leroux can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].

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