Battle stations: ready-to-roll tapes

WILMINGTON – Downtown Wilmington is poised to rock yet again.

Clinton, Fayette and Highland counties joined forces to host the first Tri-County Battle of the Bands this Friday, August 5 at 7 p.m. on Sugartree Street in downtown Wilmington.

The venue for the free event will rotate between the three counties each year.

The executive directors of each local tourism bureau worked together to ensure a great show – Jamie Wheeler from the Highland County Visitors Bureau, Stephanie Dunham from the Fayette County Travel and Tourism Bureau and Susan Valentine-Scott from the Convention Bureau and visitors to Clinton County.

Each visitors’ office has selected a group to represent their respective county:

• Highland County’s Filo Beddoe — “specialize in delivering tunes that are sure to send the crowd into an uncontrollable dancing frenzy.”

• Clinton County’s Reeking Havoc “features a high-energy show that will have you dancing down the street with their variety of rock, country/rock and pop.” Its members are Chris Branham, Todd Farler, Greg Gates and Tim Purvis.

• Fayette County’s Sean Poole & Buckin’ Krazy play “traditional country, 90s country, blues and southern rock, so dust off your dancing boots and get ready to have some fun.”

“The Clinton County Convention and Visitors Bureau is thrilled to partner with Highland County Visitors Bureau and Fayette Travel and Tourism to collaboratively engage our communities,” said Susan Valentine-Scott, Executive Director of the Clinton County CVB. “We’re excited to have fun while we’ve developed a great event that crosses the markets of Southwest Ohio.”

The opening ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the first band will play at 7:30 p.m. Each band will play approximately 45 minutes.

The public will vote for the winner of the evening. The winning band will receive a rotating trophy for the contest and bragging rights as the winner of the inaugural Tri-County Battle of the Bands contest.

“We encourage everyone to come cheer on their favorite band. There will be food trucks – Aloha Tacos & More, Werner’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, Penny’s Snack Shack, TinCap Cidery, The Escape, and more on Sugartree Street,” Dunham said.

The event is free. Bring your own lawn chairs and enjoy the show.

Filo Beddoe will represent Highland County this Friday at the Battle of the Bands in Wilmington.

The three bands will compete for the inaugural Tri-County Battle of the Bands trophy.

The annual competition will rotate in three counties