CONTRIBUTED BY BOTANIC
OPELIKA — Botanic will be hosting its biggest event yet, Battle of the Bands, on Saturday, June 22, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ten bands will compete for audience votes to win $5,000 cash, as well as a song produced at The Sound Wall with Grammy-nominated artist Justin Rivers.
Battle of the Bands will be a tournament style competition with bands set to perform across three stages to provide constant entertainment for all ages. Each band has been carefully selected through an audition process to curate a music festival type of environment in the center of Botanic’s campus.
Each band performing offers a unique sound, with influences from alternative to indie and hard rock to jazz. Competitors include:
- Front Seven, an Opelika band that has taken their unique blend of cover songs from Dothan to Birmingham and every honkytonk, lake party and backyard in between. The band covers all the hits from the 60s to today, and is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Kasey Kaschak, bassist Alex Matthews and drummer Nate Jackson.
- The Band Silhouette, formed in Auburn by James Berryhill, Brenner Oakes, Will Scarpa and Dylan Deal. The group displays eclectic influences on their debut album Seedlings, a collection of tracks showcasing a range of genres, from alt rock to California indie to improv funk to bossanova-esque balladry to Latin-tinged breakdowns.
- The Latter, formed in Auburn by Jack O’rear, Jackson Durdin, JD Rohling, Jack Estep and Landon Knorr, with influences ranging from Led Zeppelin, The Replacements, Rolling Stones and Widespread Panic.
- Relative Sound, a four-piece rock cover band from Columbus featuring David Stivarius on guitar and lead vocals, Mike Webb on drums, Aaron Gillies on lead guitar and vocals and Caleb Gamble on bass. They cover music from a variety of genres, including classic rock, southern rock, blues, alternative, funk and folk.
- 13 Seconds of Silence, a 3-piece neo-grunge outfit from Central Alabama consisting of twin brothers Matthew and Ethan Linna with cousin Zack Dingman. The members cite as major influences Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Silverchair and Seether.
- Bearded Chieftains, an indie funk/rock outfit from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Formed at Jones College in Ellisville in 2021, the band mixes equal parts of stanky syncopation, sizzling guitar work and scalpel sharp lyrics rife with relevant social commentary.
- Broncos ’N Bullet Holes, which creates a unique and striking sound that has never been heard before by blending rock and country. Created by five college students at the University of Alabama with a love for writing and playing music, BNB takes inspiration from George Strait and Chris Stapleton all the way to The Allman Brothers and The Black Crowes.
- Oxmoor, a band of many genres, ranging from hard rock to jazz. Formed in 2022 in Birmingham, the band is influenced by many styles of music, the greatest being 70s rock with jazz fusion and jam band influences.
- Zion Goins, hot off the release of their EP Letters from the Trail and singles Virginia and You Didn’t Know, the Atlanta based Alabama boys bring a fusion of folk, indie rock and western twang.
- Duhe and Daboys capture a carefree vibe in any atmosphere, bringing you medicinal music for the mind, body and mostly soul. Da boys embrace complexity, creating music for musicians while also supplying easy listening for any audience.
Botanic is located at 1702 Frederick Road in Opelika. Tickets are available to purchase through Eventbrite. A General Admission ticket for $35 includes all day entertainment, access to vendor beverage samples and merchandise, giveaways and an audience vote to decide which band will take home the grand prize. A Deluxe ticket for $50 includes a shrimp boil voucher in addition to all General Admission features.
While guests decide the fate of each band, concessions such as loaded mac and cheese, hotdogs and churros will be available for purchase. Guests may also visit one of many cash bars with beer from event sponsors as well as featured cocktails. Main sponsors include Michelob Ultra, Big Kona Wave, Ketel One Vodka and Nolet’s Gin.