FYI : Battle Of The Bands
Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 9:12 am

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The 2005 World Battle Of The Bands was an extension of the now 14-year old NZ Battle Of The Bands. 2004 saw a rebirth of the event as the World Battle Of The Bands, taking the concept to the international arena.

Events were held nationwide in New Zealand and Australia, as well as in several venues through Hong Kong and Los Angeles. In total, approximately 400 bands competed, in almost 200 shows spanning from June to late November. Each countries event peaked with well-attended National Finals, which determined the one winning band from each country that would make it to the World Final. On November 27, 2004, the first World Final held in Auckland, was a successful conclusion to the 2004 event.

In 2005, the event grew from the current four countries, to 6 countries with the inclusion of 2 more countries in the Asian region, Singapore and the Phillipines. The 2005 World Final was held in Hong Kong, providing a more central destination.

Each of the competing countries, throughout various venues, hosted heats, semi-finals and regional finals to determine the competitors for each National Final. The winning band from each country then flew to Hong Kong, where they competed in the World Final.

RE: FYI : Battle Of The Bands
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 11:05 am

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The history of The Battle Of The Bands:

The Lion Red Raw New Zealand Battle of the Bands, as it has been called since 2001, is a nationwide music event that has grown in popularity and size over it’s now 14 year history.

The event provides a platform for emerging bands to further present themselves to larger audiences, as well as to industry figures both locally and on a National level. It has grown to be the largest post-school age music contest in New Zealand. The event provides a middle ground between artist’s 1st performances & perhaps RockQuest entry; and the other end of the scale, doing their own tours and releasing records commercially.

The event has been organised over 10 years by Auckland musician and studio owner Andrew Featherstone. Initially only in Auckland, the event moved to other parts of New Zealand following an overwhelming amount of entries of bands from outside the Auckland area.

Many companies support the Battle of the Bands by contributing to the Prizes and Promotion. These include: NZ On AIR, APRA, NZ Rockshops, Marshall, Software Images, Area 51 Studios as well as media partners - Channel Z, The Rock Network, some select regional radio stations, TV4, Space, Squeeze, Rip It Up, NZ Musician and more. Several of these sponsors have supported the event for a number of years.

Examples of previous winners and finalists include:

TADPOLE - 1995 Now gone on to achieve near triple Platinum sales in NZ, finalists for 7 music awards and have begun to export to Australia. They also are one of NZ’s most popular live acts. They have to signed to Antenna Records, licensed to EMI.

REAL - 1997 Singer/songwriter now moved to USA to pursue career.

MAMA SAID - 2000 They have attracted English Producers Malcolm Foster (NZ based) previously bassist for The Pretenders AND Simple Minds, and Steve James (Australian based) producer of Weta, Superjesus, Shihad, Sex Pistols & even The Teletubbies.

BLINDSPOTT - Finalists 2000 Following the Final they recorded their debut single ‘Nil By Mouth’ and achieved TV and Radio airplay. They recently signed to EMI.

STOODS - 2001 Recorded debut single with James Reid of The Feelers producing. They have recently had both recording and video grants from NZ On Air.

Several individual musicians changed bands or formed others etc. These now include members of the Feelers, True Bliss and many more.

RE: FYI : Battle Of The Bands
Posted: Sat May 1, 2004 11:17 pm

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UPDATE: WORLD BATTLE OF THE BANDS 2004

In 2004 the event has been re-named the WORLD BATTLE OF THE BANDS.

This will see the event established in more countries with a new level added; winning bands from each country playing off against each other competing to be the World Winner.

Inspired by several entry forms from bands based outside of New Zealand, as well as reaching a point in NZ where the event has reached the whole country; this international growth opens the door for the event to become a world-wide established brand reaching an even larger audience.

2004, 'Phase 1 - Pacific Rim', will begin the international growth, with NZ, Australia, Hong Kong and Los Angeles being the first regions invited to join in.

These regions have been selected due to geographical location to New Zealand as well as existing business destinations of the organisers. Although other regions are a possibility, it has been decided to limit 2004 to 4 regions only, with more countries / cities to be added in 2005.

Each of the four's countries, throughout various venues, will host heats, semi-finals and regional finals to determine the competitors for each National Final. The Winning band from each country will fly to Auckland, New Zealand to compete in the first ever, WORLD FINAL.

New Zealand will run in a very similar manner to the usual annual format; venues throughout the country. We estimate around 250 bands will enter, in around 85 - 100 shows: based upon the entries of the last two years. We are pleased to announce that many of the 2003 sponsors will again be involved as we move the event to an international level. The majority of venues from 2003 are also invited to host the 2004 event, and most confirmed already.

2004 prizes include:

- Flights to Auckland, New Zealand for all World Finalists to compete in the world final
- Recording of a single through Area 51 Studios and its release through Intergalactic Records
- CD Pressing by Software Images

RE: FYI : Battle Of The Bands
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 2:45 pm

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The Battle of the Bands National Championship is New Zealand’s largest and longest running R18 Band competition; events take place nationwide, allowing bands throughout the country to take part. Started in 1993, The NZ Battle of the Bands has helped the careers of many well-known New Zealand artists, including OpShop, Tadpole & Blindspott to name just a few.

Website: http://www.battleofthebands.co.nz/
Email: [email protected]