The 40 Watt Club in downtown Athens opened its doors for the Battle of the Bands, a fundraiser for the Cedar Shoals High School journalism program, the Cedar Blueprints Magazine, on Jan. 19. Clarke Middle School eighth-grader Dylan Mantione (pictured), participated with Kaija Gilbertson Hall, Isaiah Pope, Blake Straehla and Ethan Caspary Poucher in the band Golden Cage. “I think it’s a really fun program for a ton (of) high school bands and middle school bands to get together and battle,” Mantione said. “It supports (the) Cedar Shoals Media Group and I’m all down for that.” Photo by Maya Cornish
The Cedar Shoals High School journalism program, the Cedar BluePrints Magazine, hosted the second annual Battle of the Bands fundraiser at the 40 Watt Club in Downtown Athens on Jan. 19.
On Jan. 19, the Cedar BluePrints Magazine held the second annual Battle of the Bands.
The 40 Watt Club hosted the event, which showcased five local teen bands, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The event consisted of five bands performing and competing for first place. Attendees paid $10 to get in and receive a ticket they could use to vote for their favorite band. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three bands, and the first place band was promised exposure.
“For the winning band, we got (radio station) 93.3 and they’re here and they’re going to try and play (the winning band’s song) on the air here locally,” Goodie said.
The five bands that competed were Golden Cage, Snapdragon, Fishbug, Cheese Dream and AD Blanco. All five bands are made up of Clarke Middle School, Clarke Central High School and Cedar Shoals High School students.
“It’s really fun for a ton of high school bands and middle school bands to get together and battle,” CMS eighth grader Dylan Mantione, who performed with Golden Cage, said.
At the end of the night, AD Blanco was announced the winner of the 2019 Battle of the Bands.
CSHS senior Catherine Hennessey, who plays bass guitar for AD Blanco, was excited about the band’s unexpected win.
“It was honestly shocking. We all had our opinions on who we thought should win so when we found out that we placed first, it was really surprising,” Hennessey said.
Cedar BluePrints Magazine started the Battle of the Bands last year as a way to raise money for the program. CSHS parent Chinami Goodie came up with the idea for the fundraiser.
“We are basically trying to get funds for the kids to go to (the Southern Interscholastic Press Association conference). And of course, (the students) are always breaking things so getting equipment for the various journalism projects and broadcast. And it’s great to get all the kids together in one fundraiser,” Goodie said.
CCHS junior Thomas Evans, who plays the drums for Snapdragon and Cheese Dream, was pleased with the outcome of the event.
“Everyone did amazing and the energy and chemistry backstage between everyone was awesome,” Evans said. “I had fun above all else, and I’m just glad I got to spend some more time doing what I love with some awesome people.”
