The call for entries has begun for U-TURN’s annual Garage Band Playoff ’09, a national battle-of-the-bands competition sponsored by USAA and open to aspiring musicians and songwriters ages 13-21.
This year – in the tradition of immortal songs like Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild”, and Rascal Flatts’ “Life is a Highway” – U-TURN is looking for The Next Great American Road Song.
U-TURN’s judges are seeking original compositions that celebrate cars, driving and the freedom of the open road. Song entries can be something the artists have previously written and recorded, or a completely new creation.
If a song makes the cut, it’ll face off in a series of online, head-to-head match-ups against others… until only one song is left to be named The Next Great American Road Song.
THE GRAND PRIZE INCLUDES:
- $2,500 cash
- a professional photo and video shoot
- an in-depth interview on U-TURN’s audio podcast
- tons of free buzz on MySpace, Facebook and more!
RULES OF THE ROAD:
- Open to solo artists, groups and bands of any musical genre
- Song must be original (no covers)
- Song topic must be about cars, driving or the freedom of the open road (instrumentals OK if evokes a driving feel)
- Song must be clean/radio-friendly
- Solo artist or at least one band member must also be a USAA member
- Solo artist or all band members must be ages 13-21 (as of July 31, 2009)
DEADLINE TO ENTER AT GARAGEBANDPLAYOFF.COM IS JULY 31, 2009. VOTING BEGINS OCTOBER 16, 2009. FOR MORE INFORMATION, E-MAIL
UTURN@USAA.COM.
No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning.
BACKGROUND INFO:
- This is U-TURN’s third Garage Band Playoff competition, but the first with a theme.
- In 2008, the competition involved 16 bands from across the country, ranging in style from country to metal.
- Voters from around the world voted more than 150,000 times through 8 head-to-head matchups, 2 semi-final rounds, and the finals.
- Grand Rapids, Mich.-based indie rock group Coronete was crowned U-TURN’s Garage Band Playoff ’08 champion. (Their song can be streamed at myspace.com/usaauturn) They beat Southern California-based Invictus (note: currently defunct) in a tight finals matchup.
- The 2007 champion was San Antonio-based A Kid Named Thompson.
Posted 6/12/2009