Twenty four of the most electrifying bands in the state have advanced to the Semifinal Round of the HI-FI Battle of the Bands. After a 12-week run, the first round of 72 Indiana-based bands has been paired down to 24 remaining acts.  

The Semifinal Round will kick off this Wednesday, Jan. 8 at HI-FI in Fountain Square (1043 Virginia Avenue #4). Twenty Four bands will perform at four shows set to take place every Wednesday in January. Tickets for each event are $12 and only available at the box office on the night of the event.  

“We feel the momentum and excitement building. It’s been a while since this much attention has been focused on local music,“ Event Promoter and HI-FI Co-Owner Josh Baker highlights. “The camaraderie this event has fostered among the artists and the depth of talent each night has been astounding. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as capacity crowds are expected from here on out.” 

Two bands will advance from each of the four semifinal rounds with winners announced at the end of each event. The eight finalists will perform at The Vogue (6259 N College Avenue) in Indianapolis on Saturday, Feb. 15 for the finals. One winner will walk away with the ultimate grand prize of $10,000 cash and a touring van, among other great prizes.  

SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE

More Information: Event Website 

Download Semifinal Creative: Event Web Image

Download First Round Photos: Photo Page - Hi-Res Available On Request

Embed First Round Video: Video Page

THE AUDIENCE PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE

Fans are given a ballot when entering the event and vote for their three favorite bands of the night. The total audience vote is paired with a combined vote of three secret music industry judges to determine which bands will advance. 

GET INVOLVED

The success of the event is a credit to the enticing prize packages offered to winners. Those prizes are offered through creative and strategic partnerships with local and national brands. Local businesses are encouraged to get involved by contributing additional prizes to the winners. Association with the event not only provides great visibility for your company but is a fun way to get involved in the local music community.  For partnership information, contact Josh Baker at jb@mokbpresents.com.  

NEW MUSIC DISCOVERY

“This event has proven that the level of talent in Indianapolis is at an all-time high. Week after week, the Battle of the Bands has delivered diverse lineups featuring the best artists in the city. Our favorite aspect of the event, and many of the fans have noted the same, is discovering incredible new artists we were previously unfamiliar with. 

BATTLE WEDNESDAYS DELIVER MUSIC NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

As evident with the Indy’s Music Strategy, Indianapolis is taking its music assets seriously. The Battle of the Bands provides a centerpiece event that not only showcases the best homegrown talent, but also our music oriented organizations. The artists themselves have enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate and to spend time with one another in a collegial setting of diverse talent. 

“Everything we do, across all of our companies, revolves around building and strengthening our local music economy. While the competition aspect of the event makes it a little more interesting, this event was created as a way to spark momentum by hosting a weekly meet-up of local musicians, music professionals and live music fans,” Baker adds. “With music as the centerpiece, the people and ‘the hang’ have made Wednesdays at HI-FI a central point for networking and collaboration."

ABOUT THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS

The revived Battle of the Bands has created a buzz within the talent-rich local music scene as bands are competing for a grand-prize of $10,000, a touring van and other perks like a recording session and vinyl pressing. This particular Battle of the Bands concept, or “The B.O.B” as it was referred to, was perfected by HI-FI Co-Owner Josh Baker during its weekly run at Broad Ripple’s The Patio from 2001-2006.The original Battle of the Bands was popular in the early 2000’s when it was held at The Patio in Broad Ripple. For six years, the Battle of the Bands was credited with infusing energy and collaboration into the local music scene by attracting sellout crowds for every night of the event. After 12 first-round nights of this new incarnation, it’s clear that the event has made a successful return. The Battle of the Bands, combined with HI-FI’s New Faces Nights, continues MOKB Presents commitment to support and develop local talent originating from Indiana.