Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is once again calling on local bands to take the stage at the Hard Rock Cafe for the chance to play at the 2019 97x Next Big Thing Music Festival. 

As part of this year’s “Hard Rock Rising Tampa – Battle of the Bands,” music acts will compete for a shot at next level fame. 

Rising to the Next Level

Beginning on Monday, September 2, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa will open online registration at TampaHardRock.com/Rising.  All entrants will need to be at least 16 years of age and submit a completed Reverb Nation webpage with two original song uploads. The submission period ends on Thursday, September 12.

From September 16-20, committee voting will take place to determine the top three finalists from all eligible entrants to participate in the live competition. In addition, four to six wildcards will be chosen. During this period, the property will solicit fans via a social media vote to select the last wildcard finalist.

On Monday, September 30, the property will announce online the three finalist bands and the one wild card finalist band who will battle at the Live Competition on Wednesday, October 23, at Hard Rock Cafe Tampa.

Winner Takes All

One Grand Prize winner of the Live Competition will win a performance slot at the 2019 97x Next Big Thing Music Festival at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, where the they will perform next to acts such as The 1975, AJR, Judah and the Lion and more.

The Live Competition judges will include a variety of music industry professionals. There will be five categories included in the judging criteria – Originality (30 percent), Musicianship (20 percent), Vocal Ability (20 percent), Stage Presence (20 percent) and Audience Reaction (10 percent).

For full rules and more information on “Hard Rock Rising Tampa – Battle of the Bands,” please visit TampaHardRock.com/Rising.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

Owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is one of the largest and most successful casinos in the world offering award-winning gaming, hospitality and entertainment. The casino features more than 4,000 of the hottest slot machines, 138 table games and a state-of-the-art Poker Room featuring 46 tables. Additionally, the property offers a smoke-free Mezzanine Level Casino. The hotel is AAA Four Diamond rated and the property proudly offers seven award-winning restaurants, including the upscale dining venues Council Oak Steaks & Seafood and The Rez Grill. Renovations and expansions set to debut in the fall of 2019 include a new hotel tower with over 500 rooms, three ultra-lavish pools and expansive gaming space. The property will also unveil a new Rock Spa® & Salon, meeting space, entertainment venue, arrival experience as well as new food and beverage options. The resort is located off I-4 at North Orient Road and Hillsborough Avenue, about 10 minutes east of downtown Tampa. For more information, please call 866-502-PLAY or visit us online and via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.​

About Hard Rock International

With venues in 74 countries, including 188 Hard Rock Cafes, 240 Rock Shops®, 29 hotels and 11 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s most valuable collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise available in global Rock Shops and online at https://shop.hardrock.com. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands including Hard Rock Live performance venues. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes known for their award-winning Legendary ® Steak Burgers in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company’s two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, FL., both owned and operated by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida. Another exciting Hotel & Casino location includes Atlantic City. Hard Rock Hotels are located in vibrant city and resort destinations such as Bali, Cancun, Daytona Beach, Desaru Coast, Ibiza, London, Los Cabos, Orlando and Shenzhen. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include Kathmandu, Nepal, Gran Canaria, Spain, New Castle, United Kingdom, Asuncion, Paraguay, and Chandigarh, India. New Hard Rock Hotel, Casino or Hotel & Casinoprojects include Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Dublin, Madrid, Maldives, New York City, Ottawa, Sacramento, Dalian and Haikou in China. In 2018, Hard Rock International was recognized as a Forbes Magazine Top Employer for Women and Land Operator of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards. In 2019, Hard Rock International was honored as one of Forbes Magazine’s America’s Best Large Employers, Forbes Magazine’s Top Employers for Women and No. 1 in J.D. Power’s 2019 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study among Upper Upscale Hotel Chains. For more information on Hard Rock International visit www.hardrock.com.

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