Seattle band Tomten, runner up in the first round of competition, won first place in the Sound Off! finals last Saturday after being voted into the wild card spot by EMP’s Youth Advisory Board from the semifinal runner-ups. The Seattle rock/pop band beat out the three other finalists to be the first wild-card winner in the nine-year history of Experience Music Project’s underage battle of the bands.
Second place went to Renton bluegrass band Northern Departure, while audience favorite went to Seattle alternative band Fit For Hounds.
As winner of the 2011 Sound Off!, Tomten will receive a performance slot at Bumbershoot 2011, a live on-air performance on 107.7 The End’s The Young and the Restless, gear from KORG, and studio time. Northern Departure, as second-place winner, will get to perform at Northwest Folklife 2011, and receive gear from KORG and studio time. All winners receive a one-on-one consultation with a prominent music industry professional, according to the Experience Music Project website.
136 bands entered Sound Off! 2011, the 10th anniversary for the 21 and under battle of the bands.
From the Sound Off! webpage:
Sound Off! has paved the way for some of today’s freshest young talent including The Lonely Forest, Dyme Def, The Globes, New Faces, The Lonely H, Sol, Schoolyard Heroes and Brite Futures (formerly Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head.) The competition supports the local underage music scene by giving young artists from different backgrounds a unique opportunity to showcase their work, connect with the larger artistic community and perform live at some of the hottest venues in the region.