Edge wins battle of the bands

COURTESY PHOTO Pictured are the members of the band Edge out of Evart. Eric Schmidt is on vocals, Jason Hardy is on bass, Dave Armentrout and Dave Johnson are on guitar, while Dan David is on the drums. Edge was the winning band at the battle of the bands at Castaways in Bay City. That saved them a spot at the Mountain Rock Fest in Farwell Saturday to open for Pop Evil, Saliva, Third Eye Blind, Grand Funk Railroad and Deep Purple.

EVART — A local band is one step closer to their dream — being a nationally known rock band.

Saturday, Evart-based band Edge won a battle of the bands competition in Bay City. The band played for an audience and three judges in hopes of winning the chance of opening for big-named bands at the Mountain Rock Music Festival in Farwell.

“We did it,” said Eric Schmidt, Edge’s lead singer. “We are the opening band Saturday night at the festival. We got the night we wanted to play.”

Edge was one of five bands chosen for the battle of the bands. This was done through an online battle of the bands contest, where anyone could vote for their favorite bands online.

“Only four of the five bands showed up, so it was kind of a let down,” he said. “But we did it, and that is what counts.”

Edge will start the musical entertainment Saturday, with Pop Evil, Saliva, Third Eye Blind, Grand Funk Railroad and Deep Purple to follow. The second- and third-place bands, Hide from Cleo and After the Dust, will open Friday and Sunday nights.

“We feel this is going to get our foot in the door — we can use this experience for the future,” he said. “There is a dining and bar area in the back so if we hang out there, there is a good chance we will be able to meet the other bands.”

If given the chance, Schmidt said he hopes to get some advice from the bands Edge will open for.

Other band members are Jason Hardy, bass guitar; Dave Armentrout, lead guitar; Dan David, drummer; Dave Johnson, rhythm guitar. For more information about the band, people can visit Edge’s Web site at www.edgerocks.com.

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About the band

Edge, a rock band from Evart, won the battle of the bands at Castaways in Bay City Saturday. The prize was allowing them a spot at the Mountain Rock Musical Festival in Farwell.

Edge will start the musical entertainment Saturday with Pop Evil, Saliva, Third Eye Blind, Grand Funk Railroad and Deep Purple to follow. Edge also will play on a side stage from 4:15 to 5 p.m. Friday.

For more information about the festival, people can visit www.mtrockfest.com. For more information about Edge, visit www.edgerocks.com.

tberkebile@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397