PVCC prepares for charity band battle

The Youth Mentorship Club (YMC) is bringing the Battle of the Bands to Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) once again. The Battle of the Bands is one of the YMC’s fundraising events for organizations that work with kids in the Charlottesville community.

This year, the YMC will be donating 100 percent of the proceeds from the Battle of the Bands to help the I Have a Dream Foundation of Charlottesville.

This organization raises money for first generation college students in the area and helps pay for their college tuition.

Alana Yuhasz, student contact for the YMC, believes it is important to attend the Battle of the Bands to “get the word out and spread the message of these organizations and really shine light on what they’re doing.”

Yuhasz sees the Battle of the Bands as an important event, because “everyone loves music, but it’s more than that. It’s bringing everyone together on a general cause.”

Each band will have the opportunity to play a few songs, and the winning band will have the opportunity to play a second set at the end of the show.

The winner of the contest will be decided from a panel of judges, as well as a second winner that will be the “crowd favorite.” Both winners will win a cash prize to be announced at the event. Fans are encouraged to come out and support their favorite band.

Eric Nelson, who is playing with the group Johnny Law!, sees this event as “a good way to give local musicians a chance to perform for a good cause. It’s not every day you have an opportunity like that.”

The event will be held on Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m. at the Main Stage Theatre in the V. Earl Dickinson Building. Tickets will be $5 in advance for everyone and will go on sale April 13. Tickets at the door will be $5 for students with a student ID and $7 for the general public.