Local alternative band //AMISTAD// have just found out they have made it into the top 10 finals for the Interior/Northern B.C. region in the CBC Music Searchlight competition.
The Vernon-based five-piece, whose members are just finishing up high school, join bands from 23 regions across Canada, each with 10 finalists who will move on in the contest.
Nine of the top 10 finalists were chosen by CBC Music judges, and one was chosen by popular vote.
Round two in voting begins today and closes Friday, April 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
To vote, visit cbcmusicsearchlight.ca (Search for Amistad) or go directly to the site via a link on //AMISTAD//’s website at amistadband.com.
CBC Music's Searchlight will be deciding the one finalist for each region who will move forward. In addition to that, two artists with the most votes nationally will also move forward, rounding out the Top 25, which will be announced Tuesday, May 3 at noon PT.
Consisting of Aidan Andrews, lead vocals/guitar, drummer Carson Bassett, bassist Nolan Bassett, keyboardist Craig Masterson and guitarist Eli Garlick, //AMISTAD// has been surprising music fans and critics since the 2015 release of their album, LEE.
The band’s new single, Radikal, has been receiving generous airplay since it came out in February, and is the first song off the band’s upcoming album, Talk Peace To A Wolf, to be released in May.
/AMISTAD// is hosting its new EP release show on May 27 at Paddlewheel Hall on Okanagan Landing Road. The show is all ages and ticket details are available at www.amistadband.com.
The band will also be playing at the Seaton Rotary Club's Sonic Sounds May 5 fundraiser for Charity: Water at W.L. Seaton Secondary School. The show is open to the public. Tickets are $10 (adults)/ $5 (students). Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at Ratio Coffee, from band members, and at wlsrotaryaction@gmail.com. Performers also include Jacob Soucy, Brainiac, Shaughnessy Rose, and For The Kids.
The band also opens for Johnny de Courcy and Painted Fruit at The Point studio (3125 31st Ave.) in Vernon, May 9. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. with //AMISTAD// taking the stage at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door (all ages).