It is billed as a “Battle of the Bands for those who despise Battles of the Bands.”
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The Happy Valley Showdown enters its fifth week at The Basement in Northampton with a group of area bands gearing up for the finals of the annual concert series.
It is billed as a “Battle of the Bands for those who despise Battles of the Bands” and the weekly Sunday night concerts serve as a showcase for local music.
The Happy Valley Showdown is in its fifth year of highlighting bands in the middle of the winter. The series began at The Basement and has recently returned from a three-year run at The Elevens. The HVS specifically targets new bands that have a year or less of exposure to get them integrated into the local scene.
The concerts begin in January and run for two months (taking the week off for Super Bowl Sunday). The finals will be held on Feb. 26 with two more bands to be added to a list that includes Crescent Hill, Homebody, The Mary Jane Jones, and The Conjure Beat.
Bands are given the opportunity to perform three originals and one cover. The artists are judged by a panel of established local musicians and fan balloting. This week’s contestants include Ammo, Whirl, The True Jacqueline, The Northwest Angle, Fresh Out, and Darling Boys.
The mission of the annual “battle” is posted on the event’s Facebook page.
“The point of this is to introduce new bands to the older bands in town and the fans that come out to shows,” it reads. “There will be prizes. We don’t do this to hurt feelings and bruise egos. People just love bloodshed and they’ll come out to see a collection of bands that aren’t well known to them.”
There is a $3 cover charge at the door. The music begins at 8 p.m. The Basement is on Center Street in Northampton.
