With more than 10,000 bands entered worldwide, 418,000 votes submitted and 750 bands competing in live battles at 70+ Hard Rock Cafes around the world, the results are in and San Francisco’s own Matt Jaffe & The Distractions has made it to the final round of Hard Rock Rising – the world’s largest battle of the bands competition!
After battling it out with several of the area’s top bands at Hard Rock Cafe San Francisco, Matt Jaffe & The Distractions is among the top winners from around the world and is one step closer to winning the chance of a lifetime – an all-expenses paid trip to Rome, Italy to perform at the first Hard Rock Live Rome music festival this summer! Second and third prize winners will each receive new music equipment and gear valued at $10,000.
Local fans can vote once more for their favorite competitor to move into the Top 25 and help the San Francisco band get one step closer to performing in Rome. During the final round, Matt Jaffe & The Distractions will compete against winners from 70+ other worldwide cities, via an online final fan voting phase to determine the Top 25 global bands. Fans can vote on the Hard Rock Cafe San Francisco Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HRCSanFrancisco.
“It is so important that we continue to show our support for emerging artists and give new talent a chance at much greater exposure,” said Scott Hutchison of acclaimed indie-band Frightened Rabbit. “I’m really eager to hear the top 25 bands that the world chooses, and I’m even more excited to pick the winner who will perform at Hard Rock’s first Hard Rock Live in Rome music festival.”
Matt Jaffe & The Distractions has already received a taste of the rock star lifestyle in San Francisco, and now has the chance to be judged alongside 24 other winners from across the globe.
These local winners will be evaluated by a panel of celebrity judges and music industry professionals, including Steven Van Zandt, producer, songwriter, creator of the world’s most successful radio rock show “Little Steven’s Underground Garage,” founding member of the E Street Band and soon to be Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee; singer and hit songwriter Bonnie McKee, known for her hit single “American Girl” as well as hit songs for Katy Perry, Ke$ha, and Britney Spears; Scott Hutchison of acclaimed indie-band, Frightened Rabbit; Laura Taylor of Everybody’s Management, who currently works with Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons; Stone, guitarist of Taiwanese band Mayday and Hard Rock Records’ Artist Relations Executive James Buell, who will determine the grand prize winner and two runner-up bands.
Zennie Abraham | Zennie Abraham or “Zennie62” is the founder of Zennie62Media which consists of zennie62blog.com and a multimedia blog news aggregator and video network, and 78-blog network, with social media and content development services and consulting. Zennie is a pioneer video blogger, YouTube Partner, social media practitioner, game developer, and pundit. Note: news aggregator content does not reflect the personal views of Mr. Abraham.