SPAC also announced that the two additional judges for the competition will be Donna Eichmeyer, Vice President of Marketing for Live Nation, New York and Greg Haymes, editor and head writer for Nippertown.com. Eichmeyer and Haymes join C.O.O and national music industry heavy-weight Richard Pawelczyk of Webster Hall, who was announced as a judge last week.
Eichmeyer and Haymes, each longtime music media professionals, have experience that includes:
- Donna Eichmeyer, Vice President of Marketing for Live Nation, New York oversees the marketing for Live Nation’s North American concerts in New York City, Long Island and Central/Northern New Jersey. She has worked on numerous international tours including Roger Waters, Madonna at Yankee Stadium, Swedish House Mafia, Jay Z, and the inaugural performances of Sensation in the United States.
- Greg Haymes is the editor and head writer for Nippertown.com, the premier arts & entertainment website for the Capital Region, Berkshires and Hudson Valley. Haymes has written about the music scene – both local and national – for a quarter century, interviewing music icons such as Bill Monroe, B.B. King, Steven Tyler, Sonny Rollins, Jeff Buckley and more.
On Friday, SPAC raised the stakes for the competition with the news that C.O.O and national music industry heavy-weight, Richard Pawelczyk of Webster Hall would be leading the judges’ panel and bringing with him a major addition to the Battle of the Band’s “Judge’s Choice” winner’s package: the opportunity to perform on one of Webster Hall’s live music stages in New York City. The venue, host to the hottest and up-and-coming bands in the nation has most recently presented Mumford & Sons, Green Day, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Foster the People and more.
The competition, scheduled for May 24 at 7 p.m. at the Spa Little Theatre, will feature two winners this year: the “judge’s choice” and “audience choice.” The “Judge’s Choice” will win the opportunity to perform on one of Webster Hall’s stages and receive 25 hours of studio recording time at The Recording Company. The “Audience Choice” will win the opportunity to perform at a SPAC event. More information is available on SPAC’s website at www.spac.org.
SPAC’s Battle of the Bands: Competition Details
- Contestants must submit a YouTube audition video and online entry form at spac.org by 11:59 p.m. EST Sunday, May 5. Only videos with original music will be accepted.
- May 6-8, the public will have the opportunity to view the audition videos at spac.org and vote for their favorite band. The other nine finalists will be chosen by a SPAC selection committee. Ten finalists will be announced May 10th.
- The ten finalists will have 10 minutes to perform for a live audience and a panel of celebrity judges on May 24 at the Spa Little Theatre. The event is run “American Idol”-style with 3 celebrity judges rating the performance of each band following their time slot.
- Bands will be evaluated and the two winners will be chosen based on the judges’ selection, and the audiences vote for “People’s Choice”.
Timeline:
- May 5, Deadline for bands to apply
- May 6-8, Public voting takes place
- May 10, SPAC announces finalists
- May 24, 7pm, SPAC Battle of the Bands at the Spa Little Theater in Saratoga Spa State Park
