The second time around for the band, which is comprised of three musicians - drummer Chris Lepage, bassist Phil Rushworth and lead singer Luke Lavendusky - say that this time they are going to do things differently. "We were in a really tough competition two years ago," said Lepage. "We took it as a learning experience."
The competition which allocates up to $350,000 in development money to the winning group, allows bands to perform live, learn from industry professionals and have their music aired on local radio stations. This year they've added new elements to the contest, including the second stage of the process where bands provide a detailed business plan stating what they would do if they won the money and what they would do if they don't.
"I am confident," said Lepage. "A lot of work went into this business plan, thirty hours or more."
Lepage says the band hopes to set itself apart with their interesting alternative rock sound. Nothing features guest appearances by musicians playing instruments like the violin, cello or flute to make each performance different. "We like to keep things fresh by giving it a different flavour," said Lepage.
The judging of the second round takes place on June 30. While the band hopes they make it into the top 15 they can be confident that their hometown crowd is cheering them on.
