Hard Rock International called on aspiring musicians around the globe to rock out for a chance at stardom through this year’s Hard Rock Rising, the world’s largest global battle of the bands competition. The Carnabys, from Hard Rock’s hometown of London, answered that call beating out more than 12,000 competitors in this international battle!
The Carnabys are now ready to embark on the opportunity of a lifetime – a World Tour in six renowned cities – including a spot on the bill with headliners Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Kasabian at the Hard Rock Calling festival in London; an album and music video produced through Hard Rock Records; and new music equipment and gear valued at $10,000. Two runner-up bands, Sunwill from Moscow and Bop Skizzum from Denver, will each receive new music equipment and gear valued at $10,000.
From Los Angeles to London, Bali to Bangkok – local bands across the globe entered, competing in online-fan voting via Facebook; local battles at Hard Rock Cafes; and a final round – where a panel of music-industry professionals (including Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band, Live Nation Senior Vice President of Music Toby Leighton-Pope, Hard Rock International’s Head of Music & Artist Relations, John Kirkpatrick, and Hard Rock Records Co-Heads of A&R, James Buell and Blake Smith) evaluated bands and selected the winners.
“This year we saw some really high-level competitors and with such an amazing prize on the line, the scoring process for all of us on the judging panel was more difficult than ever before,” said John Kirkpatrick, Hard Rock International’s Head of Music & Artist Relations. “Ultimately it was The Carnabys who stood out because of their songwriting, musicianship and performance level. We look forward to welcoming them to our Hard Rock stages!”
Hard Rock Cafe was founded in 1971 by two, music-loving Americans in a Rolls Royce showroom in London and now includes 179 venues worldwide. Hard Rock’s history of giving local talent an international stage for exposure began in 2009 with a US-based Battle of the Bands, which has since grown into the international Hard Rock Rising program with thousands of bands competing from 94 cities across the world. 2013 marks the first year a band from Hard Rock’s home city of London has won the grand prize.
Committed to supporting music and emerging artists around the globe, Hard Rock International hosted more than 20,000 live music events worldwide in 2012. The brand continues its dedication to support of up-and-coming artists in 2013 with the Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands, providing a forum for today’s hottest new talent.
Visit www.hardrock.com for additional details.
