For music makers looking to book the gig of a lifetime, the search stops here. For the second year in a row, The Independent is joining forces with the West Beach Music Festival to provide one talented band or musician with a spot on the fest’s star-studded three-day-long lineup. From now through Friday, July 10, The Indy will be collecting submissions from bands and artists online at independent.com/band_submission. Once entered, artists will not only become part of this fall’s third Santa Barbara Band Guide, they’ll also be registered in a month-and-a-half-long battle of the bands that will pit some of S.B.’s finest against one an other in a race for West Beach glory.
From Friday, July 17, to Friday, July 31, independent.com will host an online vote-off for the county’s favorite music act. After that, semi-finalists from three regions will battle it out live for a chance to move on to a three-act final showcase at De la Guerra Plaza in September. And the winner, you guessed it, will score some very serious stage time at the festival during the weekend of September 18. Interested parties are encouraged to visit independent.com/bands for more info, or email bands@independent.com with questions. Good luck to all, and may the best band (or songster) win!