This summer, Gimli will host its inaugural Battle of the Bands competition, giving local musicians an opportunity to showcase their skills on a shared stage.
The Battle of the Bands event is set to be held at the pavilion in Gimli on May 19. As part of the ongoing summer music series on Gimli’s harbour stage, Allan Sulyma, the town’s tourism coordinator, has been receiving numerous inquiries about booking local bands.
“We always try to put some of the best Manitoba musicians on the stage every year for people’s enjoyment and to add tourism in Gimli,” he said.
Amidst the summer lineup, Sulyma strives for top-notch musical acts and has devised the Battle of the Bands to discover local talent. The victorious band will receive a $500 prize and a spot in next year’s concert series. Should there be multiple standout bands, Sulyma is willing to book them all.
Only bands can enter the competition, which means duos or singles won’t be accepted. All band members must be over 18. If younger, they must have parental consent to perform. Each band also has to have ties to Gimli, whether it be they attended school in the town, lived there once, or own a cottage in it.
Every participating band will have the opportunity to perform for 30 to 45 minutes. The event is appropriate for all ages, so all types of music are encouraged to be showcased at Gimli’s Battle of the Bands. Sound, tech equipment, drums, and bass rack will be provided for all contestants during the competition.
“There are so many talented young musicians in Gimli and so many talented older musicians in Gimli,” said Sulyma. “We want to give them the chance to be heard. It’s not always about being paid; it’s about being heard.”
Sulyma is reaching out to local business owners who host live music, to serve as judges for the competition. This will provide an unbiased judging process and give the bands an opportunity to secure local bookings.
Battle of the Bands will start at 6 p.m. on May 19, though Sulyma said if there are more bands and they need more time, they’ll start the event earlier. Registration for the competition is currently open and will stay open until May 12, a week before the event. Once the lineup is confirmed, Sulyma will make the schedule and post it to Gimli’s website and social media pages.
To register your band for Gimli’s inaugural Battle of the Bands, email tourism@rmgimli.com.
