Music
Press
More than 400 cheering fans crowded the gymnasium at Bath Middle School on April 7 for the Sixth Annual Battle of the Bands, hosted by the Sagadahoc Community Justice Project.
Fifteen bands representing five area high schools took to the stage to battle it out for the best sound. The teen musicians kept the crowd of teens and parents rocking with a diverse compilation of genres ranging from ska and punk to trance and acoustic folk.
"This event seems to bring out the best this area has to offer," said Patty Kimball, Program Manager for Weed & Seed, Volunteers of America Northern New England. "It's a great way to showcase local talent while bringing multi-generations together."
After5 hours of solid music, judges selected the winning entries, with Mt. Ararat Senior, Sam R-P, taking first place; hard-core metal band Brutal Intentions, from Morse High School, taking a second-place title; and alternative rock group Poor John, from Brunswick High School, taking third place.
This was the second year that Sam R-P impressed the judges. Last year, he led his band, Rolling Express, to first-place. Winning a second year in a row was a surprise to Sam, who plans to apply his prize money of $500 toward tuition at the Berklee College of Music, where he plans to attend next year.
"I really wasn't expecting it this time," said Sam R.P. in a Brunswick Times Record article. "People seem to dig me. I try to impress people as much as I can and bring my energy to the stage."
The event was produced mostly by volunteers who work full-time during the day and are musicians themselves at night. It was also sponsored and funded by the Sagadahoc County Weed & Seed Initiative, Volunteers of America Northern New England and a collection of local businesses, many of whom have been supporting this event since it first began.
"In this age of tightening budgets, it's been a struggle for schools to keep arts alive in the curriculum. Battle of the Bands is one opportunity for teens to experience the arts, and have fun while doing it," said Kimball.
Judges for this year's event were Jerry Perron, owner of the Music Center in Brunswick; Rich Heald, Richmond Police Chief; Mark Barter, owner of Sunburst Guitars; Matt Carter, 4-year Battle of the Bands veteran and owner, Tracking Audio; Carter Ruff, owner Subterranean Music Works. - Brunswick Times Record
Discography
Midnight Avenue LP (released in May of 2006)
Jokers World EP (Never officially released, but finished in 2007 and the first track "Derylou Square" has gotten airplay on Maine's WCLZ)
The 607 Sessions (A home made acoustic CD finished on 1/1/08)
Jokers World (official album) released August 20th, 2008
Photos
Bio
Sam R-P lives his life in music. He plays Guitar (which is his main instrument) along with piano, bass, harmonica and he sings. He's been playing in groups for many years now, starting out in his punk rock roots, playing in a punk band. Sam digs all the music in the world, and you can hear all his different influences in his music. He released his debut studio album, Midnight Avenue, in the spring of 2006, and has been recording songs in the studio since, here and there. He won the Sagadahoc County Battle Of The Bands in 2006 AND in 2007. In late 2007 he recorded another short EP, Jokers World, and recorded an acoustic CD on his own called The 607 Sessions. Sam's latest album, Jokers World (the official album), was released on August 20th, 2008. He has played with many people and has opened for many bands, including the Sam Kininger Band, and he has played many venues, including the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. He is currently pursuing his musical career at Berklee College Of Music in Boston, MA.
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