This MEDIA RELEASE
2010 BATTLE FOR CHRIST VENUES ANNOUNCED
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
Media Contact Ron Clayton 423-506-0004 or roncayton_comcast.net
PHONE INTERVIEWS CAN BE ARRANGED
VENUE DATES
January 16 - Athens, Tennessee
February 20 Atlanta, Georgia
March 13 Athens, Tennessee
March 27 Chattanooga, Tennessee
April 3 Murfreesboro, Tennessee
April 10 Chattanooga, Tennessee
NOTICE Slots for groups are still available see information at www.thebattleforchrist.net.
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ATHENS, Tenn. A unique Christian contemporary and rock band venue - The Battle for Christ - will soon give area Christian groups a chance to gain national exposure and fans a chance to listen to some of the best groups in a multi-state area
The first Battle is scheduled in Athens, Tennessee on January 16, at the Athens Junior High Auditorium.
The Battle is produced by Tennessee based Legacy Production and Recording Studio, and each of six venues will be limited to eight bands, with the top bands in the contemporary and the rock categories advancing to semi-finals contests. The contemporary semi-final will be held at the spring J-Fest two-day festival in Chattanooga that draws major label groups. The rock winners will compete in a Cleveland, Tn. semi-final.
Winners of the final Battle will also have a chance to tour with a major label group.
Sponsors of the Battle include Radio Station J-103, Tennessee Wesleyan College, Athens based Citizens National Bank, and the Ichthus Festival.
Each group will have 20-minutes to showcase their music before Battle judges and the winners will compete at semi-finals, leading up to the final battle for each genre.
Initial battles will begin in January and continue through April in Atlanta, Georgia; Chattanooga Tennessee; Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Athens, Tennessee. A schedule is available at .www.thebattleforchrist.net
Final winners in each category will compete in Final Battles will be at Ichthus Ascenxion Scout Showcase, in Lexington, Kentucky. That festival yearly draws more than 50,000 people to the event. In the final battles, five Major Label Representatives will judge 10 bands, 4 from the Battle for Christ, and 6 other bands which have advanced from similar programs in Indiana and Ohio. The top band will advance to another battle sponsored by the Christian Music Festival. The winner of that battle will win a recording contract with Word Record Label in Nashville, TN
This is the second year for the Battle, an idea developed by Legacy Productions owners Mark and Lori Hutchinson. Based in Athens, Tennessee, their company has a high-tech recording studio, sound and light equipment rentals, and a high-end sound and lighting equipment store.
Mark Hutchinson said the Battle gives excellent Christian bands a means to compete with others of their own genre and to spread their musical abilities and their message of Christ. In the 2009 battle, bands entered from as far away as New Jersey.
Last years winner, Wisdoms Call, will be going on tour in June, 2010, and this years winner will be on a sponsored tour in 2011, Hutchinson said. And as an added reward, this year we are getting four spots in the Ascenxion Scout Showcase, with the winners appearing in front of four major record labels.
Wisdoms Call lead guitarist Jacob Allen said winning the Battle meant great exposure for the band.
We have met many people through the Battle that will help us go places with the band, Allen said. He said as last years winner, they will begin recording a CD at Legacy in January and go on tour later in 2010. Winners get free sessions and production on one CD.
Hutchinson said many excellent groups never get a chance for national recognition, and the Battle was begun to give these bands a chance to be heard by both fans and Christian producers.
The battle is an exciting and unique way Christian bands can not only show their abilities, but a way to make friends with other groups, said Legacy Public Relations and Media Director Ron Clayton. Last year, after the Battle, several bands joined together to do joint shows. They also increased their ministry abilities by sharing ideas with other Christian musicians.
Bands interested in entering the competition should go on line at http://thebattleforchrist.webs.com/ or www.legacyrecordingstudio.com.
Entry fee is $50 and bands are encouraged to enter now since spots are already beginning to fill up with only a total of 48 spots open. Last year, with 48 spots were open with more than 50 bands turned away, so entry now will ensure your bands ability to compete, Hutchinson said.
Another plus to entering the Battle for Christ is that bands wishing to perform at the J-Fest yearly festival in Chattanooga, Tenn. will be asked to enter the battle with winning bands will be among those to perform at the festival.
All judges at the Battles are experienced musicians or writers and have extensive experience in their various musical areas, and include Kevin Ward, multi-award winning Nashville Christian Record Label Owner, Producer, & Engineer, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Member Willie Kitchens, and personalities of J-103.
For more information and battle dates, locations and times, go to www.thebattleforchrist.net
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NOTE: For media references contact the Athens Tennessee Chamber of Commerce at www.athenschamber.org, Ichthus at www.ichthus.org (Director Doug Baker), or J-103 radio station at www.j103.com (Development Director Ted Gocke)
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Christian bands called to 'Battle for Christ'
Photo special to The DPA Wisdom's Call was the 2009 Battle for Christ winner.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Greg Moses Community Life Editor
Prepare your weapons -¬ guitars, keyboards, drums and great contemporary Christian music - for a multi-city battle of sound.
Entrants are currently being sought for the Battle for Christ, a unique contemporary Christian and rock band venue to give area Christian music groups the opportunity to gain national exposure and give fans a chance to listen to some of the best groups performing today.
"The Battle is an exciting and unique way Christian bands can not only show their abilities, but also make friends with other groups," said Ron Clayton, media director for the Battle for Christ. "Last year, after the Battle, several bands joined together to do joint shows. They also increased their ministry abilities by sharing ideas with other Christian musicians."
Produced by Athens-based Legacy Productions and Recording Studio, the Battle for Christ -¬ now in its second year -¬ will begin with six venues, each limited to eight bands. The top bands in the contemporary and rock categories will advance to the semi-finals, which will be held this spring during J-Fest, a two-day festival in Chattanooga that draws major label groups. The rock winners will compete in a semi-final contest in Cleveland.
Winners of the final Battle for Christ will have the chance to tour with a major label group, as well as get free recording sessions and production of one CD at Legacy Productions.
Mark Hutchinson, owner of Legacy Productions, said the Battle allows Christian bands a venue for competing with others in their genre and to spread their musical abilities and message of Christ.
"Last year's winner, Wisdom's Call, will be going on tour in June 2010 and this year's winner will be on a sponsored tour in 2011," Hutchinson said. "And as an added reward, this year we are getting four spots in the Ascenxion Scout Showcase, with the winners appearing in front of four major record labels."
Wisdom's Call lead guitarist Jacob Allen said winning the Battle last year led to great exposure for the group.
"We have met many people through the Battle that will help us go places with the band," Allen said.
As last year's winner, Wisdom's Call will begin recording an album at Legacy this month and go on tour later this year.
The first Battle is scheduled for Athens on Saturday, Jan. 16, in the Athens Junior High School auditorium. Other battles will be held in Atlanta, Ga. (Feb. 20), Athens (March 13), Chattanooga (March 27 and Apr. 10), and Murfreesboro (Apr. 3).
Each group will have 20 minutes to showcase their musical talents for the audience and the Battle's judges, which will be experienced musicians and writers with extensive experience in their various musical areas. This year's judges include multi-award-winning Christian record label owner Kevin Ward, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Willie Kitchens and the personalities of J-103.
Winners will compete in the semi-finals, which will lead up to the final Battle for each genre.
Final winners will compete in the final battles at Ichthus Ascenxion Scout Showcase in Lexington, Ky., an event that draws more than 50,000 people annually and is judged by five major label representatives. The winner of this competition will advance to another Battle sponsored by the Christian Music Festival, the winner of which will receive a recording contract with Word Records in Nashville.
Bands interested in entering the competition should visit www.thebattleforchrist.webs.com or www.legacyrecordingstudio.com. With spots already beginning to fill, bands are encouraged to enter as soon as possible.
"Last year, we filled 48 spots and had to turn away 50 other bands," Clayton said.
The entry fee is $50.
For more information, visit www.thebattleforchrist.net.
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E-mail: greg.moses_dailypostathenian.com<>
