Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is once again turning up the volume with the return of Hard Rock Rising Tampa – Battle of the Bands competition. Local music acts will compete for a shot at career-changing exposure and their moment in the spotlight at Hard Rock Cafe Tampa.
Since 2017, 97X and Seminole Hard Rock Tampa have joined forces to give one lucky local band the chance to ignite the 97X Next Big Thing stage.
This year, Hard Rock Rising raises the stakes with a new grand prize. Local bands will compete for a shot at their song being showcased on 97X and the chance to open the next 97X concert.
Rising to the Next Level
Beginning on Monday, September 15 at 10 a.m., 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 ReverbNation webpage with two original song uploads. The submission period ends on Sunday, October 12 at 11:59 p.m.
From Monday, October 13 to Sunday, October 19, 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 the period Monday, October 20 (10 a.m.) to Sunday, October 26 (4 p.m.) fans will have the opportunity to select one wildcard finalist via social media.
On Tuesday, October 28, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa will announce online the three finalist bands and the wildcard finalist band.
The Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands Event in Hard Rock Cafe is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19 (doors open at 6:30 p.m.).
Winner Takes All
One band will be crowned the 2025 Hard Rock Rising Champion, earning the grand prize package and the opportunity of a lifetime. The grand prize winner will have their song showcased on 97X for all of Tampa Bay to hear.
The grand prize winner will also get massive exposure with their band receiving featured promotion on 97X’s social media channels, connecting the band with thousands of local live music fans.
Additionally, the winning band will get on the big stage with an exclusive opportunity to open at the next 97X Concert, performing for a packed crowd.
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 (30 percent), Vocal Ability (20 percent) and Marketability (20 percent).
For full rules and more information on Hard Rock Rising Tampa – Battle of the Bands, please visit TampaHardRock.com/Rising.
