5th Annual Molly Finn Battle of Bands Lineup Announced

The will take place on Saturday, September 17th from 2 pm to 7 pm in the quarry meadow of . Thirty musicians aged 11 to 59 performing in seven bands will compete this year.

JJKendoo of Middletown, RI opens the competition at 2:15 pm. The youngest band to play, JJKendoo includes Jake, Kenzie and Julia Lapham.

Bristol teenagers Tyler Falcoa, Ryan Falcoa and Tom Hanson then perform under their band name The 1st Time Around followed by Chukka of Jamestown, a group performing classic rock and folk that includes Andrew Alveledo, Derek Delahunt, Ben Taylor Greg Maloozi and Alex Pendergrass.

The most seasoned musicians, Michael McKenney, John Toste, Clem Brown and Bruce Gavin,0 are members of Funny Little Planet and from Tiverton, RI.

URI is represented by alumni in the band , the only band that has performed in the competition before. Milkbread is also the largest assemblage with seven bandmates: Ben Shaw, Dylan LaGumma, Dylan Sevey, Brandon Moore, Chris Gagnon, Matt Reagan and Seth Bailey. Rounding out the line up are Newport-based bands Designated Driver which includes Jon Santos, Mike Cassese, Zack Rego and Mark Carey and art rockers Castle aka Dave Passafiume, Craig Crawford, Mike Cellemme, Noah Bickford and Jenn Bessin.

In addition to bragging rights, the winning band will also receive their own 2012 concert at Ballard Park and six hours of recording time at Summing Point with engineer Scott Rancourt. Judging the competition are Rancourt, Newport Blues’s Cafe booker Jim Quinn, musicians Mark Quinn, Scott Kraus, Ollie Amerigan and LeRoy White.

The event is named for Newporter Molly Finn who was working with Friends of Ballard Park in 2006 to organize a battle of the bands event for local youth. Prior to the event taking place Molly was lost at sea aboard the Free Spirit when the boat ran into a storm during a trans Atlantic voyage. Friends and family members of Molly helped to organize the 1st Annual Molly Finn Battle of the Bands which attracted 750 people in July 2007. Over 400 people attended last year’s event.

The Molly Finn Battle of the Bands is one of many youth-oriented events Friends of Ballard Park hosts. Concerts and outdoor movie screenings were held in the quarry meadow of the nature preserve every other Wednesday this Summer. And, the 9th Annual Ballard Park Pumpkin Tour is scheduled for Saturday, October 15th from 4:30 to 9:00 pm.

The 5th Annual Molly Finn Battle of the Bands is sponsored by Dave Michael Distinctive Homes, Kiki Finn, Stagecraft Sound & Lighting, CAT Entertainment Services and Lou & Nina (Bestoso) Poanessa. It is free and open to the public. A rain date has been set for Sunday, September 18 from 2 to 7 pm. Call 619.3377 or visit www.ballardpark.org for more information.

BAND LINEUP:

2:15 - 2:45 JJKendoo

2:45 - 3:15 1st Time Around

3:15 - 3:45 Chukka

3:45 - 4:15 Funny Little Planet

4:15 - 4:45 Milkbread

4:45 - 5:15 Designated Driver

5:15 to 5:45 Castle