The UAE’s Boxtones need your help. The Dubai-based Scottish-Canadian band is in the running to perform in front of 40,000 people in Rome, Italy on July 12 — and your vote in the Hard Rock Rising 2014 competition could help them get there.
When we spoke to vocalist Gary Tierney in February, Boxtones had just been selected for the worldwide battle-of-the-bands. Now, the cabaret quintet has been voted one of 80 finalists out of thousands of entrants.
To support the regional band, fans simply have to click into the competition’s Facebook page and vote — they will even get free music in return.
“It’s such an exciting opportunity and we would hope that people would take the time to download our new single and help us get that one step closer to our dream,” said Tierney.
The Boxtones launched their debut album, In the Pockets of Clowns, on March 13. They have released singles After All Is Said and Done and U.F.O. since.
In the final stage of the competition, the top 25 finalists will be reviewed by a panel of experts. A grand prize winner and two runner-up bands will be chosen. The bands will judged on musicianship, marketability, voice talent and originality.
While the grand prize winners will perform at the Piazza del Popolo Square in Rome, the two runner-ups will receive $10,000 (Dh36,729) worth of equipment/gear, or a cheque for the same. According to Hard Rock’s official website, the fan voting period ends on May 7. Judging commences on May 8 with winners announced on May 12.
