January 18, 2025 at 7PM
Six local original bands compete for the chance to record a single with Will Lane of Viking Sound Studios and win a PR package from experts at Nicole J. & Co, Eye Candy Digital Video, and Jessie Miller Graphic Design.
Featuring Contestants:
Live Nude Surfers
Crab Pot Creek
daysed
The Bee Keepers
John Stolarc Trio
Hither
Welcome to the 3rd Annual Battle of the Bands!
Following the success of the inaugural Battle of the Bands in 2023, Arts of the Albemarle is thrilled for the event’s third iteration.
Tonight, six regional acts are competing for the opportunity to record a single with Will Lane of Viking Sound Studios and win a PR package from local experts at Nicole J & Co., Eye Candy Digital Video, and Jessie Miller Graphic Design.
After all six contestants have played, the local group Post American Gothic will play during the judges’ deliberation period.
The competing bands, chosen through a juried review of submitted videos, are each performing originals. Once all bands have played, YOU and the panel of judges will choose one winner.
Between acts, we invite you to enjoy concessions from Elizabeth City Pizza Co., The SweetEasy, Avdet Brewing Company, and various other snacks and beverages at our house bar, all for sale in the back of the theater. Band merch and limited-edition Battle of the Bands t-shirts are also on sale.
The Lineup:
Opening words from Event Chair
Host Joel Taylor Introduction, Competition Begins
Live Nude Surfers
Crab Pot Creek
daysed
The Bee Keepers
John Stolarc Trio
Hither
Cast Your Votes!
Post American Gothic Plays/Judges Deliberate
Winner Announced
How to vote:
Upon checking in this evening, you received a token. That is your vote and you may only vote once. Once you’ve decided on your pick, place your token in the band’s ballot box (located in the back of the theater). The group with the most audience votes will represent the audience’s pick during the judges’ deliberation period and will be acknowledged at the end of the night, if different from the grand prize winner.
Meet the Judges
-
Traniqua Felton, 26, is a native of Elizabeth City, a graduate of Northeastern High School (2015), and attended East Carolina University, where she studied Music Therapy. She has loved music for as long as she can remember, and could distinguish between good music thanks to watching Tarzan, Lion King, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame on repeat during her childhood. Her musical talent is widespread and has included singing with the youth choir in her church, as well as skills on instruments including clarinet, Tenor saxophone, Bari Saxophone, piano, ukulele, guitar, and a host of other percussive instruments. Traniqua works with River City Strings, the COAST Players at COA, and currently serves as an Elementary Music Teacher. In her two short years of teaching, she has received accolades like ECPPS Teachers Exceeding Excellence (Fall 2022), conducting the inaugural All County Elementary Honors Choir here at AoA (March 2023), Beginning Teacher of the year for her homeschool- Weeksville Elementary, and the ECPPS District Beginning Teacher of the Year during this current 2023-2024 school year. She feels blessed to be able to work in this community, and looks forward to continuing to contribute to this community musically as much as she can.
-
Corey Bradford, 25, became a rising star when he joined AOA’s award-winning youth theater program, The Center Players, in 2010. He played Simba in “The Lion King, Jr.’’ in his first show, performed as the Cat in the Hat in The Centers Players’ production of “Seussical Jr.” and starred in “Legally Blonde Jr.’ for which he won All Festival Best Male Performance at the 2016 Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta. After graduating from Northeastern High School in 2016, he attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York—a performing arts conservatory located in the heart of Broadway. In 2017, he auditioned with Disney and was hired as a cruise line performer. Most recently, he presented his third headlining act at AOA, Corey: One Night Only, during which he arranged and performed a musical selection of hits with a live band.
-
Savannah grew up in Williamsburg Virginia, but her lineage is from Perquimans County, spending weekends and summers down in good ol' Carolina! She was featured in numerous shows across Hampton Roads and progressed to work for Busch Gardens Entertainment, Williamsburg. She attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, and then completed her bachelor in fine arts in Musical Theatre from The New School, NYC class of 2020. During the pandemic, she also discovered a new passion for tourism marketing! You may know her as the marketing and communications director for Visit Elizabeth City, or the second runner up from Elizabeth City’s The Voice, 2023, but most recently she stepped into the role of performing arts center manager at College of the Albemarle.
-
Danny Tate’s musical journey began under the direction of his mother, who served as his church's musical director for 25 years. He began studying piano at 5, and at the age of 7 he began playing drums for his church. At age 10 he started his violin studies with Dr. Bernard McWilliams, and at 13 auditioned for and was selected to several state ensembles, including the Triangle Youth Philharmonic. That same year he began playing with the band "EightFootStride" and toured Eastern North Carolina. At age 15 began directing music for the United Pentecostal Church of Jacksonville North Carolina, a position he held until highschool graduation. After attaining a B.A. in Music Education from Elizabeth City State University, he now produces and performs with several artists in the North Carolina and Hampton Roads areas. He also gives private music lessons to local students, teaches music at Northside Elementar, and is the director of the River City Strings ensemble violin program.
Meet the Bands
Listed in order of appearance.
-
The Outer Banks-based surf punk group Live Nude Surfers began during the Covid lockdown of 2020 and began playing live that summer. In the time since, they have played up and down the Outer Banks, Virginia Beach, and as far West as Winston Salem including support roles for Agent Orange, Nekromantix, Suzi Moon, Fujiwara, and more. As a collective unit, they write and perform original songs with each member taking the lead vocalist role at times. Most recently, they have been producing self-recorded songs and are beginning to release them for streaming.
-
Formed a mere six months ago, Crab Pot Creek performs Americana and rock and roll songs. Since coming together as a band, they've begun playing gigs, but have channeled most of their efforts into writing new original material.
-
daysed is a four-piece alternative rock band made up of native North Carolinians from Elizabeth City. Though the band was recently formed, the members have been playing together for various years in the local praise band at Evangelical Methodist Church in Elizabeth City. The members are all musicians who came to know each other through the church.
The daysed sound is influenced by the coastal heritage of North Carolina and the members are all avid beachgoers. They are lovers of the sun, finding symbolism in the name daysed. daysed makes its home amidst the band's wash of crunchy overdrive and swirling reverb.
To date, daysed has only played practice sessions and the Battle of the Bands will be their debut performance.
-
The Bee Keepers are a husband and wife singer/songwriter duo based out of Coastal Virginia. Their music resembles traditional American folk storytelling with an alternative vibe. Jake & Kelsie have been playing music together for years, and their individual music endeavors track back to childhood. Though they are comfortable playing in a variety of settings, they feel most at home playing their original tunes. In addition to performing, The Bee Keepers enjoy collaborating with other musicians on song writing and live performances.
-
The John Stolarc Trio is a mix of three seasoned musicians from Elizabeth City North Carolina, blending alternative rock, alt country, and indie vibes into a unique sonic experience. John's songwriting dives into personal narratives and stories covering joy, loss, frustration, and riding out the storms of life with a grateful heart.
Beyond original compositions, the group captivates audiences with covers from iconic artists like Foo Fighters, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Sublime, Tyler Childers, and more. With a knack for creating songs that evoke the raw energy of 90's rock alternative and the storytelling depth of indie alt-country, the trio’s music is a dynamic fusion of genres and classic covers to vibe out with.
-
“Hither” is the brainchild of lead singer Heather “Big H” Helton, who has wowed crowds from Hampton Roads to the Outer Banks with her stage presence and powerful vocals, evocative of such singers as Stevie Nicks, Miranda Lambert, and Lady Gaga. Along with seasoned musicians Gary Mason on Bass guitar, Gunner Wood on lead guitar, Barret Kidd on keyboard and vocals, and Toby Tate on drums and vocals, Big H has put together a band that keeps crowds on their feet with covers from Guns N Roses, Journey, Sheryl Crow, Lady Gaga, Lainey Wilson, Third Eye Blind, AC/DC, Kid Rock, Pat Benatar, The Black Crowes, Stevie Wonder, and more, along with her own crowd-pleasing originals!
-
Post American Gothic’s self-coined soft girl post-punk genre blends an unlikely amalgamation of influences from Paramore to musical theatre classics, Tool to Hendrix, and Amy Winehouse to The Mars Volta. Named in homage to the painting by Grant Wood, the group’s original compositions reflect the shared human experience of navigating life’s hardships, emotions, and relationships.
A special thanks to all who have volunteered their time to make this event possible, including our committee—Will Lane and Josh and Moriah Cruz—the backstage crew, Holly Luther for photographs, all of our ushers and bartenders, each of the bands, and many more.
