North Shore United Way will host the Battle of the Bands at Evanston SPACE Tuesday to celebrate new education initiatives.
The event will feature five North Shore music groups, with sounds ranging from modern rock to Creole-style dance music.
Performing live, The Basement Band, Dexter, Handsome Dave & the Ravens, Nuisance Band and Sweet Potato Zydeco Band, will compete for top honors in two categories: judge’s choice and audience favorite.
The North Shore United Way is part of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago network which has announced its goal to help 50,000 students graduate from high school over the next 10 years.
The investments begin this year with $9.3 million in early childhood education and middle school transition into high school throughout Chicagoland.
The North Shore United Way will focus a significant portion of its resources on the Evanston community, as part of UWMC’s new “Live United 2020” vision. The education platform represents the third building block of stable families in United Way’s ten-year commitment to transforming communities of greatest need.
Through Live United 2020, United Way will advance the economic stability for 100,000 households and connect more 200,000 people with available preventative health services, in addition to its education goals. United Way will also continue to answer the immediate crisis needs of one million people every year by providing shelter, food and freedom from violence.
Battle of the Bands, beginning at 7 p.m. at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., will highlight the new initiative, and celebrate Live United 2020 on the North Shore.
Judges for the evening include music producer Matt Feddermann of Phase Recording Studios in Highland Park; Dan Sloan, music director and DJ for the Rock Show on Northwestern University’s WNUR; and, celebrated Chicago musician and blues guitarist Dave Specter. The judges’ top band will win studio recording time at Phase Recording Studios.
Local Emmy-award winning anchor-reporter, Ravi Baichwal, of ABC7 News Chicago will be master of ceremonies for the event.
The event is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank. Tickets are available online.