While fans rallied and celebrated the Crimson Tide’s triumph over the Missouri Tigers, the spotlight also shone on four local Tuscaloosa bands in support of the Joe Espy needs-based scholarship.
The University of Alabama’s Battle of the Bands took place on Saturday at Druid City Social. The charity event was presented by the Student Government Association, Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association.
Allison and the Reds, Warriors Bend, Convent Street and Fastlane Melvin all took the stage to compete for a cash prize and the new Joe Espy trophy. To reach this point, the featured bands had all been voted in from a larger pool of groups by students and the Tuscaloosa community.
Warriors Bend, a group of sophomore students, won after receiving the most overall votes from the event attendees by the end of the competition.
“It’s honestly been a great experience. A lot of our friends came out and got to support us, and we got to support the other bands here,” said Luke Jordan, lead guitarist of Warriors Bend. “I think it’s a great opportunity for people to get their name out there.”
Members of the band showed appreciation for the event, with Warriors Bend drummer Alston Murphy saying the event was “great” and “an amazing opportunity.” The bands expressed their gratitude for the cause as well, with Murphy saying the support and money that he and Warriors Bend could help raise “really means a lot to us.”
“The cool thing about Battle of the Bands is that it is the largest and most essential contributor to the Joe Espy needs-based SGA Scholarship,” said Freddie Nelson, SGA’s vice president for external affairs. “The scholarship directly benefits students facing financial burdens through unforeseen or emergency circumstances.”
The event brought out UA students and city residents. Along with cheering on the chosen bands, visitors were also able to watch the football game, share drinks and enjoy each other’s company.
“Our hope is to bring the campus together while also enforcing community relations,” Nelson said. “We want to make sure people are involved in Battle of the Bands to ultimately engage our community and also raise as much money as we can for the scholarship.”
With Battle of the Bands coming to a close for this year, the future of the event seems bright. There is much in store for hopeful competitors and spectators, and it is sure to have an impact on the lives of many.
“You never know who needs a scholarship, and it’s just such a great cause,” said Theo Villanueva, secretary of the senate for SGA. “I’m so proud to be part of something that gives back and helps students out at The University of Alabama.”
While the event is fun in nature, Nelson said that at its core, it’s about the scholarship.
“It’s a social event, but at the end of the day, it’s really planned to be about benefiting students who really need it,” Nelson said. “The best way we can do that is by having the campus and community come together, and that’s what I’m looking forward to the most about Battle of the Bands in the future.”
