Teens tuning up for Battle of the Bands

Bands representing Naperville's four high schools are fine-tuning their performances for the annual Battle of the Bands competition next week. The event will start at 4:30 p.m. May 16 at the Naperville Community Concert Center in Central Park, 104 E. Benton Ave.

A long-standing tradition sponsored by the Naperville Park District's Youth Ambassadors Program, the event serves as a showcase for bands from Naperville high schools to perform in front of their peers. The top three bands will perform on the Main Stage at Ribfest between noon and 3 p.m. July 5.

Each of the nine competing bands will have a maximum of 10 minutes to perform. A panel of local judges will evaluate each performance based on several criteria, including originality, performance style, musical talent, audience reaction and showmanship.

Listed in order of appearance, the following bands are scheduled to perform at this year's competition; all times listed are approximate:

• The Introduction (Waubonsie Valley, Naperville Central and North) 4:30 to 4:40 p.m.

• Mirado Black Warrior (Naperville Central) from 4:50 to 5 p.m.

• Burlington (Naperville North) from 5:10 to 5:20 p.m.

• The Hydropumps (Neuqua Valley) from 5:30 to 5:40 p.m.

• The Sprouts (Neuqua Valley) from 5:50 to 6 p.m.

• Garreth Spinn & The Shadow Figures (Naperville North and Central) from 6:10 to 6:20 p.m.

• Lightning (Naperville Central and Naperville North) from 6:30 to 6:40 p.m.

• AKA Foxy (Neuqua Valley) from 6:50 to 7 p.m.

• Beneath City Lights (Neuqua Valley) from 7:10 to 7:20 p.m.

Performances will be followed by the awarding of the top three honors. The event will conclude about 8 p.m.

Battle of the Bands originally was part of the annual Neuqua Valley Wildcat Weekend, and in 2004 it spun off as its own event. The program was created by the Park District's YAP program, a teen-run group that makes suggestions and implements unique programming for Naperville's high school students.