The third annual Battle of the Bands, hosted by WBMT, will be held on Friday, March 20, in the Masco Auditorium. Admission is free.

  This year, 10 bands will be performing not only a wide range of genres, but also be some original songs. 

  “​​It’s really impressive to see someone come up with an original song and workshop it and figure out how to write parts for all the different instruments and then to play that,” said WBMT advisor Matthew Chadwick. “If I were a judge, I would definitely place a premium on a band that’s able to write and play a really cohesive song.”

  There will also be merchandise available at the event in order to help support the club. 

“I am very excited to see all the bands perform at Masco,” said junior Anders Raines. “I’m also very excited to say that we’re selling exclusive t-shirts at Battle of the Bands this year.” 

  Shirts will be $20, and available in sizes XS to XXL in both black and white.

  This is an opportunity for high school and middle school local bands from Masco and surrounding towns to perform in front of a live audience, garner attention, and win the coveted prize: studio recording time at Harmony House Studios in Topsfield. This gives the winning band a chance to record their own music.

  Bands can play both originals and covers at the competition.

  “So many bands at the high school level are really still trying to work out songwriting as a craft,” said Chadwick. “So we see a lot of bands playing covers, and we’ve seen some awesome covers, too.”

  Some performers at the competition will be returning bands from previous years and Masco alumni. They will compete against current students, many of whom have never competed before, and the challenge will be on them to step up their game from their previous performances.

  “I’m excited to see the new bands coming in,” said senior station manager London Thompson. “We have a few new bands we’ve never had before, along with some returning members. But I’m excited to see new faces.” 

  It’s not all just rock music. Many genres can and will be played at the event. For those with more eclectic tastes, there is something for everyone.

  “I think it’s awesome when bands who play a less conventional genre of music decide to sign up,” said Chadwick. “That really, I think, creates a lot of diversity within the battle of bands, which is awesome. We got a lot of garage rock, a lot of ’80s and ’90s rock. We have a metal band playing, and we have a folk rock and an indie alternative band, too.”

  The battle for glory will once again be a show for all people. 

“The goal of the Battle of the Bands has always been to uplift bands who are of high school age, in the local community, who maybe don’t have access to the stages that you get when you’re a little older or a little more popular and well known,” said Chadwick. “And for a lot of these bands, it’s going to be their first time playing in front of a big crowd. The goal is to create a place where they feel welcome and safe to play.”