The Ryan J. Lariviere Memorial Fund is a non-profit music-orientated foundation created in May of 2003 after, Ryan J.Lariviere, a member of the band dismal, passed away. Ryan’s passion for music inspired his parents to establish a memorial to honor his memory and help emerging artists gain recognition. With donations from the RJL Memorial Fund, the Music Drives Us Foundation and other sponsors, the grand prize winner will receive:
50 hours of recording/mastering time
1,000 profession...
The Ryan J. Lariviere Memorial Fund is a non-profit music-orientated foundation created in May of 2003 after, Ryan J.Lariviere, a member of the band dismal, passed away. Ryan’s passion for music inspired his parents to establish a memorial to honor his memory and help emerging artists gain recognition. With donations from the RJL Memorial Fund, the Music Drives Us Foundation and other sponsors, the grand prize winner will receive:
50 hours of recording/mastering time
1,000 professionally illustrated and packaged CDs
online distribution
radio promotion - featured for a month on PIXY FMs “Home Grown” radio show.
All finalists win prizes including gear and Internet services.
The Battle will feature seven original bands competing for the grand prize. The night will end with a special performance by Bang Camaro who MTV calls "The Premiere Party Band in America.” All 7 slots are reserved for Sonicbids artists, with 3 alternate slots reserved as well.
The first panel of judges will be comprised of Ryan’s former band mates from dismal. They will choose bands from the Sonicbids submissions to compete in the Battle. The second judging panel is comprised of industry pros who will evaluate the bands’ the live performances.
This year's judges include:
Patrick Faucher, President and CEO of Nimbit.com, a three year sponsor of the Battle and host of Nimbit OMT: the most comprehensive on-line sales solution available to musicians today.
Ernie Boch Jr., son of Ernie Boch and Boch motors is also the founder of Music Drives Us, a Boch family foundation that supports music education, preservation and awareness throughout New England. Though successfully running the family business has been the reward, his underlying passion has always been music. Ernie graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1982 and now sits on the school’s advisory board, staying closely involved with the musical community in Boston. In 2006, Ernie brought some very talented friends together to create his own blues-rock band, “Ernie and the Automatics.”
Paul Geary (former drummer for Extreme and agent to bands such as Smashing Pumpkins and Godsmack)
Anthony J. Resta (talented producer/engineer/programmer working in studios from New York to Sydney).
In addition to the Battle, 2008 marks the inception of the Bang Camaro “Rock N Roll Boot Camp” taking place prior on the afternoon of the Battle. The Boot Camp features nationally respected panelists who work in the trenches of the music business; they will share their expertise and tips for breaking in to the business and address topics such as how to put together a band the right way, booking venues, marketing, management, new media, video/TV, radio and retail information. Attendees will learn how to advance – whether musicians or manager -- with the tools they need to make it to the next level in a music career. All artists who submit to the battle through Sonicbids will receive 50% off towards Boot Camp registrations as well as a 3-month Sonicbids membership and a year of Nimbit Retail direct-to-fan sales platform and one free product setup ($105 total value). Artists interested in only registering for the Boot Camp can do so at http://www.rjlmemorialfund.org.
Panelists at the bootcamp include:
Hugo Burnham, Gang of Four
Joan Anderman, Boston Globe
Paul Geary, Extreme/Front Line Management
Adam Moyer, Director/Producer "American Chopper"; Dave Herlihy, O Positive (Music Attorney)
Ralph Jaccodine, Bang Camaro Management
Rachel Klein, Britney Spears/Harmonix "Rock Band".
Several additional special guests will still be announced.
All proceeds go directly to RJL Memorial Fund and Music Drives Us and will fund future battles and grant money for deserving musicians.