Battle of the Bands line up to rock Queens Park Theatre

Garage punk, “distorted dream pop” and some good old-fashioned heavy metal — established bands and debutants alike will battle it out on stage this Sunday in the City of Greater Geraldton’s annual Battle of the Bands.

Eighteen acts are slated to rock the Queens Park Theatre amphitheatre, including WAM award winners Darcy Hay of Warralgurniya and RATSALAD.

In total, $2500 in cash prizes are up for grabs across three categories — best youth band (for under-25s), best original song, and best band overall.

Ian Weggler has taken on the role of ambassador for this year’s battle.

He won overall last time in 2019 with his band Electric Taste. In the lead-up to their win, they practised their 15-minute set — set-up and all — every day for 28 days straight.

Weggler doesn’t expect everyone to go that hard, but he said it taught him the value of a work ethic as a musician.

Overall, his advice to newcomers is “Just be yourself.”

“Don’t worry ‘oh, what will people think of me if I dance like that?’,” he said.

Each band will play three songs to prove themselves to the judges — musician Anne Williams, Ash Collins from Opus Music, and WA Music Hall of Famer Daron Keogh.

Keogh said the battle was a chance for local musicians to put themselves on the radar.

“It allows me to scout the musicians coming out of the woodwork ... for me, that’s exciting,” he said.

To impress Keogh, bands will have to show their marketability through stagecraft, lyrics, and raw musical talent.

“It takes a special attitude to make a living out of music. Not everyone is positioned to think like that,” he said.

It all kicks off at 11am and judges will announce the winners at 4pm.

Entry is free, so just rock up and support some local bands.

11.15amAllendale Rocks

11.30amSticky Phat Mischief

11.45amBig Swifty

12pmBush Chooks

12.15pmRevnant

12.30pmIndigo Point

12.45pmXhalisse

1pm Eight Cannons Worth

1.15pmChilli Chimps

1.30pmSideways Miss Jane

1.45pmParallel 26

2pmDarcy Hay

2.15pmA Few Simple Rules

2.30pmRunnin Lo

2.45pmTQSM

3pmRATSALAD

3.15pmGood Strife

3.30pmWorf