Bands battle 4 Patrick

Lead singer Ben Dick and the rest of Sobriety's Rejects rock it out at the Waterfront Saturday and take 1st place at the Battle of the Bands. Story and photos by Ryan B. Edmunds

Patrick 4 Life held a one-of-a-kind battle of the bands at the band shell on North Bay's waterfront Saturday.

7 bands competed for cash prizes and Sudbury’s Konflit Dramatik, a four-piece progressive rock band with an electronic style very unique to Canada’s music scene, headlined the event.

The sunny Saturday evening boasted pleasant weather, good music and free admission to the event. Organisers asked for little more than what people had in their pockets be donated to help pay for the overhead costs such as lighting and sound.

First place, with a grand prize of $500, was taken by North Bay's Sobriety’s Rejects, a by the books 3-chord punk trio following in the footsteps of bands like The Ramones and Screeching Weasel. Prescription for Protest took home $200 and 2nd place title, while 3rd place went to State of Sound. Also participating in the show was North Bay’s - I Confess, Killing For Friday, The City Escape from Sturgeon Falls, and Redemption.

The winners were declared based on a voting system where anyone who wished to be a judge could simply fill out a form stating who they thought should receive first, second and third placing.

Richard Fortin, event organiser, says all the bands are winners for competing in support of Patrick 4 Life.

"I just love music and I wanted to find local talent. I thought it would be a great idea,” explains Fortin.

“I went to the community and said we'll supply the great venue, we'll supply the great sound system and you supply the great music and that is what happened."

Fortin said that the main purpose of the event was to raise awareness about the AIDS virus and not to raise money for it. He was firm on the idea that profit is not an issue as far as they are concerned.

"We just want to try to pay for the rental of the sound system and basic expenses and other than that it’s just for fun," Fortin said.

"In terms of Patrick 4 life, the mission is to let people know that AIDS is still an important issue. The young people here today especially are the ones who have to come up with the solution because things right now aren't quite working out for people with the virus."

Fortin added that anyone wishing to donate loonies, toonies, twenties or hundreds can always do so at Inn on the Bay, where they regularly accept donations for Patrick 4 life.