The songwriting competition hosted by Se-Lah Management & Promotions at the Gunghalin Lakes Club in 2017 was a taste of things to come. Photos: Supplied.
Following weeks of chatter about the future of live music in the Canberra CBD, one southside venue is gearing up to launch a brand new Battle of the Bands.
Chisholm Vikings, in partnership with international talent agency Se-Lah, are set to showcase Canberra’s best up-and-coming bands every Wednesday night from July 17.
Canberra has a long history with band contests. Local acts like Moaning Lisa and Rubycon have launched their careers via the National Campus Band Comp in recent years with great success. Se-Lah’s Battle of the Bands looks likely to follow in that same tradition of encouraging local talent, with the concept being led by community need.
“It came about through venues looking for new activities to get people interested, particularly during the middle of the week,” says Randall Purcell of Se-Lah Management and Promotions.
He was quick to distance his format from what you might see on TV in the form of The Voice or Australia’s Got Talent, opting for a more artist-focused approach.
Purcell has a track record of nurturing young artists through previous events like open mic nights at Lanyon Vikings and his Talent Extraordinaire competitions.
Lanyon Vikings was the setting for a series of jam nights in 2016.
“It’s a showcase and promotion of local talent in Canberra,” says Purcell. “This is battle of the bands, but through the history of events like this over the past few years, we’ve seen a lot of youngsters in particular go on to really grow as artists; musicians like Sophie Rainbow, Natasha Campbell, Ned Philpot, Sasha Taylor, the list goes on.”
Contestants will be in the running to take home part of a tiered prize pool valued at over $6000, with each week’s performances adjudicated by a panel of experienced local musicians and industry professionals. The exact details of the prizes are, for the time being, being kept under wraps. But a combination of financial investment and professional development is a welcome opportunity for any band trying to find their feet in a challenging music industry.
“We’re here to provide them with the platform to start their careers, whether that’s locally or in the wider music industry.”
How To Enter
To enter, send the name of your band to Randall Purcell on 0406 035 755. He’ll get in touch with more details. But get in quick! Registrations close on Thursday 4 July.
What’s the best band you’ve ever seen at a band competition?
For more information about what’s on at Chisholm Vikings go to www.vikings.com.au
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