Battle of the breweries

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 12

Battle of the breweries

Tbe Battle of the Bands, a competition started by Benny Levin in the 60s, has been resurrected with the help of a' nationwide brewing company. The Kuhtze battle of the bands competition could herald the battle of the breweries since Rheineck is now in the second year of promoting a national artist competition with the winner getting $30,000, mostly in recording time, and an additional $30,000 for promotion and advertising once an album has been completed and released. In the case of the battle

of the bands, the total value of the prizes for both the heats and finals is $BO,OOO. Dominion Breweries is behind the Kuhtze battle and Lion Breweries is sponsoring the Rheineck music award. Benny Levin holds the registered name for “battle of the bands.” For that reason other promoters who have held similar band competitions have had to look for other names. The band battle opens in Invercargill on October 6, and two heats will be held at the Playroom, McKenzie’s Hotel, Christ-

church,'on October 9 and October 10. The Playroom will also host the South Island regional final on October 17. There will be two other regional finals before the grand final is held at Auckland’s Galaxy Club on November 1. The Kuhtze battle is open to all bands who have not signed a management or recording contract. In the case of the Christchurch heats, New Music Management has set a deadline for demotapes, of Tuesday, September 29,

The tapes can be sent to New Music Management, P.O. Box 5564, Auckland.

The principal judges will be Dick Driver, who fronts “Radio With Pictures,” and who formerly played with such bands as Pop Mechanix and Hip Singles, and Mike Corless, of New Music Management. Local personalities will judge in each of the heat areas, and the judges in the grand final will include representatives of CBS Records and Harlequin Studios.