Battle of the Bands: 6 local bands to compete for Cash and Third Thursday gig

Six local musical acts will compete for hundreds of dollars in cash prizes at the upcoming Retro Rose Battle of the Bands in downtown Benton. The two-day event will determine which two bands advance to perform on the main stage during the city’s popular Third Thursday event in July.

See below for more info, including Judges, Bands, Tickets, Prizes, Sponsors, and about the subsequent Third Thursday event.

The two-day all-ages event in downtown Benton features a mix of rock, alternative, and punk music, offering a platform for local talent to reach a larger community audience. The room will be standing room only except for limited seating available that will be first come first serve.

The competition is the evenings of July 10th and 11th, from 6 – 9pm. That’s a Friday and Saturday night at Retro Rose, located at 124 N. Market St. Organizers will announce the top two bands on Sunday, July 12. Those final two groups will then battle on the main stage on Thursday, July 16, during Benton’s Third Thursday festival.

Audra Parsons is the owner of Retro Rose and organizes this contest. “We are super thankful that the City of Benton partners with us to make this possible every year,” said Audra. “It is so exciting to see local talent have such a big opportunity to headline the main stage at Third Thursday! The exposure as well as the support means a lot to these bands. We are so glad to be a part of it.”

See below for Judges, Bands, Tickets, Prizes, Sponsors, and about the subsequent Third Thursday event.

Click to view the map or navigate with GPS – https://share.google/fHtONVKHozlcPWMV8.

JUDGES

Judges will consist of well known radio DJs, Third Thursday Director Matt Thibault, local musicians, news reporters, and more.

BANDS

Foreshadow
East of Anthony
The Briar Sharp Band
Moser
FLAMING FOOLZ
Copern

Musical styles are a mix of rock, alternative, and punk music, offering a platform for local talent to reach a larger community audience.

TICKETS

Admission will be $8 online, $10 at the door. Watch for a ticket link on Retro Rose socials starting July 1st.

PRIZES

Musicians have strong incentives to perform their best.

1st Place = $700 cash prize + the headline spot at Third Thursday (July 16th),
2nd Place = $300 and will perform before the headliner.
Others = Crowd favorite prizes for participating bands.

SPONSORS

Local businesses are supporting the event.

The Front Porch Market is the primary sponsor,

with additional sponsorship from

The City of Benton
Front Porch Market
Relics Tattoo Shop
Val-Trax Excavation
Offutt Sign Co.
Get Tipsay With Lindsay

THIRD THURSDAY JULY 16TH

Downtown Benton’s Third Thursday street festival on July 16th will feature musical guests from the Battle of the Bands. This event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., drawing the community to the historic downtown area for food, local vendors, and family activities.

The main stage will feature a live performance by the winners of the Battle of the Bands contest at Retro Rose Records.

Attendees can expect several food trucks, adult beverages from Bodiddle’s, a kid zone on the Courthouse lawn, and numerous local vendor booths.

Organizers encourage visitors to bring lawn chairs, friends, and family to enjoy the evening.

To accommodate the massive crowds, city crews will close sections of three streets – Main Street, Sevier Street, River Street, and South Street – to all vehicle traffic.

The Third Thursday series runs monthly from April through September. Organizers invite vendors, entertainers, and activity leaders to participate in future dates; interested parties can contact Matt Thibault at [email protected].