Yellowknife (Jun 09/06) - Summer is here; the sun is out and the birds are singing. Why not drown them out with some live music?

The Music in the Park battle of the bands is ready to go tonight at Somba K'e Park, kicking off a competition that will see 20 bands of all ages and genres going head-to-head over three weeks.

Drummer Walter Girrion performs on stage with Mandeville Drive during last year's Music in the Park competition. This year, 20 bands and artists will meet for a chance to win recording time at Spiritwalker Productions. - NNSL file photo

"It's a great time, hopefully the sun is shining and we get a good crowd out," said Tim Jaworski, sales manager at CJCD, which has held the event for the last five years.

As in previous years, the grand prize is 10 hours of recording time and a demo with Spiritwalker Productions. Second prize is a $300 gift certificate at Fiddles and Stix.

After two weeks of music, the top three bands or artists from each night will meet during Canada Day festivities to determine a winner.

Featured artists include Hindsite, Pandora's Bliss, Drowning Julie, Brett Talbot and many others (a complete list was not available at deadline).

"I'm really excited," said Pandora's Bliss vocalist and songwriter Julie Hintz. "This is my first Music in the Park." She said this is only the fifth time she has performed with the band, which includes her brother Erich on guitar and T.J. Buggins on bass. Erich has performed every year at Music in the Park, the first three of which were with his band, Lost.

"The songs are amazing," he said of Julie's songwriting. "This is probably my favourite band at the moment." Jaworski said the event is particularly important to younger artists.

"It's one of the few opportunities they get during the year to perform in front of a crowd, and they get 300-400 people watching them," he said.

"It's amazing how much local talent is out there."

Last year's winner, Azure DeGrow, said she used her prize to record two songs: "Smartie Toes" and "Love is Not Built on Guilt."

She said the competition was a great experience, as much for its attitude as its unique setting.

"It was really about meeting other people and having an opportunity to play that you normally wouldn't in front a really large audience," she said. "Love Is Not Built on Guilt," has been in regular rotation on CJCD.

"Once they cut their CD, if it sounds good and it fits our format, we'll definitely give it some airplay," Jaworski said.