The 2017 Road to Nightfall has begun. The annual concert series kicked off last Friday with a record-breaking crowd in attendance. The crowd voted the winner of Friday night’s performance to be Walrus, and Saturday’s winning spot was earned by Over Easy. Both Walrus and Over Easy are new, local bands and this year is their first appearances in the Road to Nightfall competition.
This week’s shows will be on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Granfalloon, 400 East Main St. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. to all ages, with a cover charge of $10. The band showcases begin at 8 p.m. each night, and food from Adelle’s Creperie will be served throughout the evening.
"Come and enjoy some great local music and help us as the hunt for Chattanooga’s 2017 most promising local act continues. With three more nights left before the finale on March 25 at Miller Plaza, there will be plenty of entertainment for the evenings," officials said.
Bands competing in Road to Nightfall will each have 15 minutes to play, and all songs must be original. Then audience members will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite bands via text message to determine the winner of each night. The nightly winners will receive $500. At the finale, the five winners of the previous nights will then compete in front of a panel of professionals in the music industry who will determine the band that receives a headlining spot at Nightfall and a $1,500 cash prize. The second place winner will receive a prize of $500, and, along with the other finalists, a guaranteed spot as an opening act on one of the 15 nights of the Nightfall concert series held at Miller Plaza beginning Friday, May 5.
Last year over 130 musicians from 30 local bands competed for more than $10,000 in cash and prizes. Over 20,000 text votes were submitted from more than 1,500 fans who wanted to help name Chattanooga’s most promising local act. Past winners have used this experience to widen their fan base and further their musical careers. Past winners include: Nick Lutsko, Ryan Oyer Band, Function, Amber Fults and the Ambivalent Lovers, WTM Blues Band, and Strung Like a Horse.
This year’s shows will continue as follows:
Thursday, March 16 Friday, March 17 Saturday, March 18
Midnight Promise Big Green Funk Monday Night Special
Mountain Cove Mending Wall Caney Creek Company
Kerchief Backwater Still Dream Collective
SunSap Grace Lane Subkonscious
Kind Cuebas & Melancholy Dupree Deacon Bluz/HolySmoke Moon Hollow
Josh Driver & The Rick Rushing & the Blues Dixie Playboys Strangers
Road To Nightfall is sponsored by Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, Soundcorps, Chattanooga Presents, The Soundry, Songbirds, Metro Tone, Diamondback Stringworks, Vida Flo, Wonder Press, City Stream Powered by EPB Fiber Optics, and Click Click Boom.