The area band Hometown Roots was the overall winner in last week’s Guelph qualification round for the Rock and Roll Challenge sponsored by Hamilton radio station Y108.
The group, consisting of four teenagers from the Rockwood area, has met with critical reviews and early success with its blend of rock and electric folk music and lively stage presence.
Winners of the 2010 Battle of the Bands at their high school, John F. Ross CVI in Guelph, the members went on to a closely-contested second place finish in the City Of Guelph High School Battle of the Bands. They followed that accomplishment with first place finishes in similar competitions at Halton Hills’ Big Daddy Festival in Acton, and at the Georgetown Fall Fair.
On Nov. 25, Hometown Roots took on five other local groups in the Guelph qualification round at Squirrel Tooth Alice’s Bar and Grill. Twenty-five minute sets by each band in front of a loudly appreciative audience allowed judges from the music industry to grade their performances.
Musicianship, quality of writing, cohesiveness, stage presence, and audience reaction were taken into consideration.
After several hours of music from the six competitors, Hometown Roots was pronounced the winner.
Y108 Rock and Roll Challenge founder and organizer Rob Rapiti, of BLR Entertainment, said, “Not very often do we provide top marks for stage presence and audience reaction, but tonight these guys get a perfect score.”
Rapiti said of lead singer, 18 year old Tyler Zuidema, “One of the most charismatic frontmen we’ve seen in these Rock and Roll Challenges.”
Hometown Roots now moves on to the quarter-finals in Hamilton in April.
For a sample of the band’s music, visit myspace.com/hometownrootsband.
Learn more about the Y-108 Rock and Roll Challenge at rockandrollchallenge.com.
