At this Pinellas battle of the bands, kids and young adults compete for big prizes – Tampa Bay Times

Some of these fledgling musicians may not be old enough to drive yet, but all of them are ready to rock.
On Thursday, March 13, 14 young bands will take over R.O.C. Park in Madeira Beach for the Spring Break Waterfront Festival’s Battle of the Bands.
The competition pulls from Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties, showcasing young talent ranging from elementary school-aged to 25.
The event kicks off Madeira Beach’s four-day Spring Break Waterfront Festival, which brings in 10,000 visitors annually. Battle of the Bands director Toni DePass expects 2,000-3,000 spectators to stop by on the day of the concert.
Genres include alternative, rock and pop, with about half of this year’s kids playing metal, DePass said. Each band will play for 24 minutes, with at least half of their sets dedicated to original songs.
Bands will compete against others in similar age brackets. A jury of local musicians and people in the music industry will judge each group on skill and stage presence.
DePass is especially excited about the prizes, which are meant to encourage the groups to continue playing. In 2024, winners walked away with free studio time to record. Up for grabs this year: musical equipment, a graphic design consult to create a band logo and a free photo shoot from local photographer Ivan Washington.
“I’ve tried to give a platform for youth bands to showcase what they do and what they love, to give them a place to network and just have a safe, fun environment where they get to just perform for their peers,” DePass said. “A lot of them haven’t had that opportunity before to play live with professional equipment and this massive crowd.”
The Gulf Beaches Rotary Club and the city of Madeira Beach present the Spring Break Waterfront Festival’s Battle of the Bands from 3-9 p.m. Thursday, March 13. Festivities take place at R.O.C. Park, 200 Rex Place, Madeira Beach.
The event itself is free, although carnival rides and games cost money. For more information, visit springbreakbotb.com.
Gabrielle Calise is a culture reporter who covers music, nostalgia and offbeat Florida trends. Reach her at gcalise@tampabay.com.
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