Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is calling on local bands to take the stage at the Hard Rock Cafe for the chance to play at the 2021 97x Next Big Thing Music Festival. 

As part of this year’s “Hard Rock Rising Tampa – Battle of the Bands,” music acts will compete for a shot at next level fame. 

Rising to the Next Level

Beginning on Tuesday, September 7, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa will open online registration at TampaHardRock.com/Rising. All entrants will need to be at least 16 years of age and submit a completed Reverb Nation webpage with two original song uploads. The submission period ends on Friday, October 1.

From October 11 through October 15, committee voting will take place to determine the top three finalists from all eligible entrants to participate in the live competition. In addition, four to six wildcards will be chosen. During this period, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa will solicit fans via a social media vote to select the last wildcard finalist.

On Monday, October 25, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa will announce online the three finalist bands and the one wild card finalist band who will battle at the Live Competition on Wednesday, November 17, at Hard Rock Cafe Tampa.

Winner Takes All

The Live Competition will produce one Grand Prize winner who will win a performance slot at the 2021 97x Next Big Thing Music Festival at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa.

The Live Competition judges will include a variety of music industry professionals. There will be five categories included in the judging criteria – Originality (30 percent), Musicianship (20 percent), Vocal Ability (20 percent), Stage Presence (20 percent) and Audience Reaction (10 percent).

For full rules and more information on “Hard Rock Rising Tampa – Battle of the Bands,” please visit TampaHardRock.com/Rising.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

Owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is one of the largest and most successful casinos in the world offering award-winning gaming, hospitality, and entertainment. The casino features nearly 5,000 of the hottest slot machines, 179 table games and a state-of-the-art Poker Room featuring 46 tables. Additionally, the property offers a smoke-free Mezzanine Level Casino. The hotel is AAA Four Diamond rated and the property proudly offers ten restaurants, including the upscale dining venues Council Oak Steaks & Seafood and The Rez Grill, as well as the new elegant Italian restaurant, Cipresso. Recent openings include a new hotel tower, an elevated arrival experience, the Hard Rock Event Center and Rock Spa® & Salon. The resort is located off I-4 at North Orient Road and Hillsborough Avenue, about 10 minutes east of downtown Tampa. For more information, please call 866-502-PLAY or visit us online and via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.​

About Hard Rock®

Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in 68 countries spanning 241 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 86,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. In 2021, Hard Rock was awarded the Top Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming, and Entertainment Industry by Forbes, designated as a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal and named the top performing hotel brand in J.D. Power’s North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Hard Rock was honored as one of Forbes Magazine’s Best Employers for Diversity and a Top Employer for Women. Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos also received first place ranking in the 2020 Casino Gaming Executive Satisfaction Survey conducted by Bristol Associates Inc. and Spectrum Gaming Group. Hard Rock destinations are located in international gateway cities, including its two most successful flagship properties in Florida and home to the world’s first Guitar Hotel® in South Florida, Global Gaming’s 2020 Property of the Year. The brand is owned by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.

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