Thursday, September 12, 2002

Wilmington – A broad-spectrum of local and regional bands will converge at Charley Brownz Lounge, 215 S. Front Street, at 8 p.m., Friday Sept. 20 for the Battle of the Bands fundraising concert to benefit UNCW Habitat for Humanity. Cover charge is $10 or $5 with student I.D.

Charley Brownz is allowing UNCW Habitat to use the facility for free. All proceeds from the cover charge will go toward UNCW Habitat’s mission, which is to raise $50,000 to sponsor a home for a family whose income is 25 to 50 percent below the poverty level. When UNCW Habitat completes its mission to raise the money, student members will begin to build a home, anticipated to be built during spring 2003.

The Battle of the Bands will feature acts ranging in styles from acoustic blues and funk to alternative noise and heavy metal. UNCW Habitat for Humanity plans for the “Battle of the Bands” to be an annual event. It was organized by UNCW Habitat President Terri R. Nunley and Publicity Committee Chair Heily Aktuglu with the help of German, the talent promoter for bands at Charley Brownz.

Bands will compete to win a six-hour studio session donated by Patrick Ogelvie, owner of Flux Audio/Video, for first prize and a gift certificate from McFadyen Music for the second prize. The winners will be chosen for technical merits as well as crowd reaction. The audience will vote using a (1-5) point system after the completion of each band. The band with the highest average is declared the winner.

Nunley said this is the fairest way to judge groups of such differing musical styles. "The idea for judging came out of several UNCW Habitat planning sessions," Nunley said. "I don't know if it was one person's idea or not, but it was the best idea, in our minds, of how to do this."

Participating bands include Parrish, Harry Billy Boone, Jedi and Modern Man. Kristen Star, a local solo artist, will perform while bands are switching out along with other forms of entertainment. All the bands and acts have agreed to perform for free, so all the entire cover charge can go to UNCW Habitat for Humanity. The event will start at 8 p.m. Around 1:30 a.m., the winner will be declared and the winner will play until closing.

Local businesses participating in this event include School Kids Music & Video, which has donated $100 worth of promotional door prizes. Yellow Dog Discs is donating a gift certificate. Flux Audio & Video has donated six hours of studio time to the winner, and Charley Brownz has donated the facility.

"We think it's a really good way for a band to get its name out there,” Nunley said. “Ultimately, this is the kind of thing UNCW needs to do to encourage creativity. The Battle of the Bands is a showcase for about every genre of music, and college is typically one of the best places to listen to and discover new music. Plus the audience at the Charley Brownz will there be for a good cause," she said.

For information about Habitat, how individuals can help, or if bands are interested in performing please e-mail Terri R. Nunley at UNCWHabitat@hotmail.com or 910/602-3008.