It’s here! The Dayton Battle of the Bands 2024 line-up has been announced! The 4th annual local music showcase features 6 weeks of playoff rounds starting on January 18, 2024, and a finale on March 9, 2024 at The Brightside Music & Event Venue.
The series was launched in 2020 pre-pandemic by The Brightside, Venus Child Productions, and Sound Valley Dayton. A few of the features that differentiate this showcase from other Battle of the Bands include: playoff rounds are decided by a mix of audience and judge’s votes, each week of the playoff rounds features a different genre of music, and plays down the idea of it being a “competition.”
Photo by Jordan Lynn Freshour
Organizers explained that in this competition, simply participating is a “win.” All the bands who participate get to network with industry professionals, perform in front of area music bookers, and get professional photos from Jordan Lynn Freshour. The finalists who move on all get a cash prize, the opportunity to perform on the big stage at The Brightside, and get a live music video of one of their songs from Ashley Karsen, of Sound Valley Dayton. The grand prize winner gets all of the above, plus free pizza for rehearsals from Dayton Pizza Factory, custom band merchandise from Little Monster Printing, a performance next summer at Levitt Pavilion, and an EP recording session at Dayton Sound Studios.
Along with helping up-and-coming bands get to the next level in their music journey, the Dayton Battle of the Bands team is inspired to help introduce Dayton audiences to new music to love.
“People are busy, so it’s hard to keep up with what’s new with the local music scene,” organizer Libby Ballengee shared with us. “Having a curated showcase like this during the winter especially, when people have fewer other entertainment options, makes it more enticing to come out and check out new bands. We’re trying to stimulate Dayton’s curiosity about the music being created here. Plus the shows are 7:30-10pm, so plenty of time to get home and to sleep!”
FULL SCHEDULE:
Jan 18, 2024 – WEEK 1 – POP / ROCK
– Ace Slite, Arianna Holiday, Dukes of Owls, The Bruins
Jan 25, 2024 – WEEK 2 – AMERICANA / FOLK / SINGER-SONGWRITER
– Austin Wolfe, Jeff William Butcher, Mrs. Midwestern, The Nautical Theme
Feb 1, 2024 – WEEK 3 – HIP-HOP / R&B
– Blanch Robinson, Damac, D. Knight, Dos.Grandiose, MelinaMarie
Feb 8, 2024 – WEEK 4 – ALTERNATIVE / PUNK / METAL
– ATTN Deficit Squirrel, DayGloom, Sheller, Toxic Nobility
Feb 15, 2024 – WEEK 5 – COUNTRY / BLUEGRASS
– Controversy For Breakfast, Possum Creek Ramblers, The Barnharts, The Shady Pine
Feb 22, 2024 – WEEK 6 – FUNK / JAM / PROGRESSIVE / JAZZ
– EverybodyEats, Freakquency, Intergalactic Spaceforce, KindHost
HOW TO GO?
The Brightside, 905 E 3rd St., Dayton, OH
Tickets available at thebrightsidedayton.com by Jan 1, 2024
$10 advance / $15 day of show for the playoff rounds
7pm Doors open / 7:30pm – 10pm music starts
All ages welcome
More information: https://www.daytonbattleofthebands.com/
Eastwood hails from Columbus, and is making their Dayton debut. The band effortless mixes pop, soul, and funk into an original sound that is absolutely engaging. Both bands inspire confidence in the next generation of the Dayton music scene. If you’ve been missing Gilly’s and Canal Street Tavern, this is an evening you will not want to miss!
The news of conflict around the world from Ukraine to Israel and Palestine is extremely upsetting. For those looking for some ways to cope and bring more peace into the world, there are two upcoming events that Daytonians can take part in:
HOW TO GO?
Musicians and bands performing include:
The inaugural Yellow Springs Film Festival (YSFF) is bringing in the celebrities for their weekend-long festivities. Due to popular demand (sell out) of Fred Armisen’s “In Conversation With…” special event, festival organizer’s have added a special event live music performance “Comedy For Musicians, But Everyone Is Welcome” featuring Armisen.
The festival will also present a retrospective of the career of longtime Yellow Springs resident and Academy Award® winning director Julia Reichert, featuring film posters, interviews and excerpts of her incredible body of work available free to the public.
UK’s Project Blackbird is on their first US tour, and are prioritizing Dayton as one of their stops! You can see them Tuesday, July 18th at 8pm at The Brightside.
HOW TO GO?
The Big ShaBang is back! The concert showcase is the brain child of 19 year old local music phenom, Eleanor Dakota with support from 
One of the most celebrated music events in Dayton during the last decade is back! 
If you’ve had the pleasure of seeing this amazing show already, you know how much fun to expect! (Pro tip: Wear comfortable shoes!) This go around, there is a very special guest joining the show.
After the Stop Making Sense headlining show, if you’re still ready to boogie, 
Ladies, this is your chance to enjoy yourselves! This Saturday 
Dayton Dinner Theater’s Big Lebowski Movie Party is happening at The Brightside this Sunday, March 12, 2023.
That’s not all. As it’s an interactive movie party, organizers will feature famous interactive quote and fun participation activities, pop-up fun facts, and our not-so-famous, but equally entertaining, theme-spotting drinking game. Enjoy some lip-smacking-themed desserts while you’re at it! To add the cherry on the cake, there are special surprises for the top costume contest participants.
The Brightside is excited to announce This Must Be the Party – the fantastic local tribute to the Talking Heads is back in their Ballroom on Friday, April 14, 2023. It’s a complete recreation of the classic album & film “Stop Making Sense.”
This year marks 50 years since the birth of Hip Hop, and 
The acclaimed local band Bohemian Funk releases their “Roots” album with an epic party at The Brightside Music and Event Venue on Saturday, January 28th. This band makes Dayton proud, and everyone is invited to join in the celebration!
Since their big win at the Battle of the Bands, the 4-piece has been touring the Midwest extensively. While touring, the band was discovered by a talent scout while visiting Nashville, who introduced them to the Grammy award-winning producer and engineer Jeffrey Thomas. Working with musicians like Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones, Toto, Metallica, and many more, Jeff has a resume that is miles long. He became interested in the band right away. Jeff’s industry knowledge and rock music experience made the two an ideal match. The band started working with him to make their first debut album in June 2021 in his Nashville, Tennessee, facility, Stormbringer Sound. They released “Back Home,” the first song they had made with Jeff, in December 2021.
Bohemian Funk is comprised of Rocko Dalian (lead vocalist, guitarist), Patrick Arnold (lead guitar), and Graham Werts (drums). Casey Beasley (bass) is the newest member of the band, who joined in late 2021. They deliver a fantastic live experience with their stage presence, contagious energy, and expert musicianship at every performance.
Event Name: “Roots” Album Release Party