Downtown Battle of the Bands moves to Turner Hall Ballroom

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Downtown Battle of the Bands is being relocated from Pere Marquette Park to Turner Hall Ballroom due to the weather.

The competition enlists five local bands to perform from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. as part of Downtown Employee Appreciation Week. Downtown Battle of the Bands is free and open to the public.

The pre-selected bands will perform a variety of genres, ranging from blues and folk to garage rock. This year’s acts include: Softly, Dear; Deaf Dumb and Blind Kids; Blaq Ops; Dinny Bulca and The Young Revelators. The winning band will receive a slot at Summerfest 2014 and 15 hours of studio time at lb. Recording.

Each band will perform a 15-minute set and be evaluated on content, use of time, originality, musical ability, stage presence and audience response. Judges for the competition include Kennita Hickman, artist manager and WAMI Board Member; DJ Bizzon, winner of the 2012 WAMI Award for “Best Club DJ”; and Kat Froehlich, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee personality.

The Downtown Battle of the Bands is one of the many events planned during Downtown Employee Appreciation Week, July 29 – August 2. The action-packed week features special events, office challenge games, giveaways and local discounts in an effort to reward downtown’s 81,000 employees. The annual competition is held in conjunction with the Westown Association’s ever-popular music series, River Rhythms.

For more information on Downtown Employee Appreciation Week 2013, call 414.220.4700 or visit www.MilwaukeeDowntown.com/iworkdowntown.