The Newburyport Yankee Homecoming Battle of the Bands has long been a highlight of the Yankee Homecoming Week in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Celebrating the city's rich history and maritime heritage, this event is one of the oldest homecoming festivals in the United States, aiming to promote civic pride and draw visitors to the coastal town.
The indie/classic-heavy rock band Catching Arrows, from both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, clinched the top prize in the 2023 battle which took place on July 29, 2023 at the waterfront stage. The band, which secured 3rd place the preceding year, comprises Nick Yee on drums, Alexa Cabral as the lead vocalist, Ian Sotis on guitar/vocals, and Cameron Fox on bass/vocals. Heavy rock band Hyperdrive followed in 2nd place, with pop band Stagecraft rounding off the top three. For the Battle of the Bands, they introduced two of their recent tracks, alongside renditions of “Hot for Teacher” by Van Halen and “No one knows” by Queens of the Stone Age.
This summer, Catching Arrows showcased their talents at venues including Loretta’s Last Call, Cape Cod Music Room, James Pub & Provisions, Salisbury Beach, and Boston's Nash Bar. They are slated to perform next on August 11th at Nash Bar and October 7th at the 17th Annual Oktoberfest in New Bedford, MA. The Oktoberfest event is a fundraiser for at-risk youth and educational based charities along the Southcoast and features a variety of craft and traditional brews as well as local food vendors and live music.
The acoustic division saw the sister pop duo, Trisha and Thara, also a member of Performers on the Go's award-winning Synco band, take 2nd place with a cover of “Someone like you” by Adele. Singer-songwriter Eloise Kirkpatrick, Newbury, MA, took the top spot in this category, performing one of her original songs.
Cheryl Munick oversees the event, a role she's been dedicated to since 2011. Despite challenges like torrential rain and wind this year, she orchestrated a smooth professionally run event. The competition, primarily aimed at youth and high school students, is cherished for fostering community spirit and showcasing rising musical talent.
Judges for the event comprised:
Michael Carabello: Founding member of Santana and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Michael's collaborations span icons like The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton.
Alicia Catalano: An alumna of the High School Battle of the Bands, Alicia is a music teacher and has opened for Jazz-rock band Blood Sweat & Tears. She recently released her single "Forgive".
Andrew Price: Principal Oboist for the Boston Pops and a Music teacher at BU School of Music.
Joel Kline: An active musician known for his techno music under the name "Scarpa" and a prolific architectural designer.
For their victory, Catching Arrows received a cash prize, an opportunity to perform at the Yankee Homecoming Parade, and a radio interview with Evolvement Radio.
Performers on the Go, LLC has been managing the Synco Band and Catching Arrows bands for a combined 10 years, and looks forward to some exciting events in 2024.
Instagram: @catchingarrowsband
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