Local Band Seeking Votes in International Battle of Bands Contest

Sonoma County band Kingsborough, that often plays gigs in Petaluma, has a chance to travel to London this summer and play at a music festival next to the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon, after winning the Hard Rock Rising music competition last month.

Led by singer/songwriter Billy Kingsborough, of Santa Rosa, the band combines a mix of blues, rock, and funk that is reminiscent of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Black Crowes.

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To get a sense of how far they’ve come, more than 12,000 bands worldwide entered the international battle of the bands. Now only 85 remain and Kingsborough is one of them. But since only 10 bands will ultimately be selected for the final round, competition organizers are asking the public to vote for their favorite band on Facebook.

After the top ten are chosen, a panel of celebrity judges and music industry professionals including Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band and John Gourley, singer of Portugal, will select three finalists, one of whom will go on to play the Hard Rock Café’s Hard Rock Calling music festival in London’s Hyde Park.