Christian Battle of the Bands on July 4

Nacogdoches will host the first ever Christian Battle of the Bands in downtown Nacogdoches’ Festival Plaza at 12 noon on Saturday, July 4. Event organizers are seeking acts to take part in the inaugural Christian Battle of the Bands event, and there is already a lot of interest in the competition. Five bands are already confirmed in the line up. A panel of three judges, including Drew Wilson from local band, Considered Rubbish, will decide the winner of the competition, which is open to anyone interested in performing.

Top prize for the contest is the opportunity to open at Freedom Fest, the annual Fourth of July celebration in downtown Nacogdoches. Families can enjoy live music, tasty food, and children’s activities Saturday, July 4 from 5 to 9:30 p.m. The evening will culminate in a dazzling fireworks display sponsored by the Nacogdoches Jaycees and Brookshire Brothers beginning 30 minutes after dark. Admission is free.

Encore is donating 6 hours of recording studio time for the winning band, 4 hours of recording time for the "Best Original Artist" award, and Sound Techs is donating an acoustic guitar to "The Best Guitarist." Prizes will also be awarded to "Best Vocalist" and "Best Crowd Pleaser."

“We are really excited to have the competition as an addition to this year’s Freedom Fest,” said Ashleigh Endicott, meeting and events coordinator for the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau.“This will be a great event to come out early, bring the entire family, and enjoy so you can spend the entire day in downtown Nacogdoches,” Endicott said.

Entry forms and complete rules can be obtained from JaNiece Cefalu by calling (936) 569-3449. Entry fee for the competition is $25 and allows the bands to perform three songs. For more information about the Christian Battle of the Bands, please contact JaNiece Cefalu at (936) 569-3449, or the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau at (936) 564-7351 or 1-888-OLDEST-TOWN.