"We are very excited about this year’s Briggs & Stratton Battle of the Bands and all of the great talent we know will be submitting songs on our Facebook page," said Todd Teske, president and CEO of Briggs & Stratton. "We’re especially excited to debut our new Big Backyard stage with a large video screen and gorgeous green space. The Briggs & Stratton Battle of the Bands appeals to many consumers who enjoy music as much as they enjoy our reliable and easy-to-use products that get outdoor work done quickly so they can relax and enjoy life."
Last year’s winner, This is Energy, an alternative band from St. Louis, opened for Gavin DeGraw at the Big Backyard during Summerfest.
"If you’re in a band that wants to be in front of thousands of fans, performing at Summerfest, the World’s Largest Music Festival, the Briggs & Stratton Battle of the Bands can help make that happen," said Don Smiley, president and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. "This fan-voted contest is a great opportunity for one band to ultimately be front and center at the Big Gig, and this year’s new and improved Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage will only add to all of the excitement."
Bands entering the contest should upload their music entries as soon as possible to www.briggsbattleofthebands.com. Fans vote for their favorite band on Facebook from March 14 to 11:59 p.m. on April 15. The top 10 bands selected by online voters will then be announced. A selection committee will determine three finalists by May 7. Fan voting will then resume on May 13 to choose a winner, who will be announced on May 28. Entry into the contest is free and additional rules/regulations are also posted online.
Briggs & Stratton Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., is the world’s largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment. Its wholly owned subsidiary Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC is North America’s number one manufacturer of portable generators and pressure washers, and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of home standby generators, along with lawn and garden and turf care through its Simplicity®, Snapper®, Ferris® and Murray® brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents.
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. is the non-profit organization that plans, promotes and produces Summerfest, the World’s Largest Music Festival. Summerfest 2011 will take place June 29 – July 3 and July 5 – 10, from noon until midnight daily. Summerfest will be closed July 4. The World's Largest Music Festival and Milwaukee's cornerstone summer celebration attracts the music industry's hottest stars, along with emerging talent and local favorites. The 23,000 capacity Marcus Amphitheater, 10 additional stages, diverse selection of food and beverages, marketplaces and interactive exhibits are set against the Lake Michigan and downtown backdrop, creating a festival experience like no other. For more details, visit Summerfest.com.