South Florida’s own Urban Rebel, The Scum Dogs, The Deadly Blank and Dyslexic Postcards have won coveted spots in the SunFest Rock ‘n’ Roll Shootout finale at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek’s Pavilion on Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m. After battling it out with several of the area’s top bands at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, the four bands are one step closer to winning the chance of a lifetime – to open for a SunFest major national act on Saturday, May 4, on the Tire Kingdom Stage.
This is the fourth year that SunFest organizers teamed up with Seminole Casino Coconut Creek to discover South Florida’s best band. During the four preliminary rounds held at the casino’s Nectar Lounge, 24 bands competed. They were narrowed down to the final four. The public is invited to see the bands perform for free and to see the winner crowned live.
Performance Schedule:
- The Deadly Blank: 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- The Scum Dogs: 1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
- Urban Rebel: 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Dyslexic Postcards: 3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
Judging and rewards to immediately follow.
The winning band will also earn $2,500 in cash from Seminole Casino Coconut Creek; $1500 will be awarded to the second place band; $1,000 for third place and $750 for fourth place.
The Shootout is open each year to local blues or rock bands with five or fewer members, ages 21 and up. They are judged for their skill, showmanship, originality of presentation, and crowd enthusiasm.
This year’s volunteer judges are: John Pastorius, son of legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius, senior vice president and chairman of the board of Jaco Pastorius Incorporated and producer of the Jaco Pastorius documentary; Nicko McBrain, legendary drummer for heavy metal band Iron Maiden and owner of Rock N Roll Ribs in Coral Springs, Fla. (tentative); Andy Preston, Gater 98.7 FM’s music’s director/assistant program director and afternoon on-air talent; and JJ Wolf, four-year board member of SunFest and committee chair of SunFest’s Transportation Committee. This is Wolfe’s third year serving as a SunFest Rock ‘n’ Roll Shootout judge.
In its 31st year, SunFest is Florida’s largest waterfront music and art festival. Held annually in downtown West Palm Beach during the first week in May, SunFest attracts more than 165,000 visitors. It’s produced by SunFest of Palm Beach County, Inc., a private 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, is funded in part by the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council through the Palm Beach County Cultural Council and is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council. Major acts scheduled to perform this year at SunFest include: Train, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, The Black Crowes, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran, Gavin DeGraw and many more.