Modernlove triumphant in Firestone Battle of the Bands 2018
Drogheda band Modernlove has been declared the winner of this year’s Firestone Live Battle of the Bands competition, in conjunction with Vantastival Music and Arts festival, cementing their position as a headline act at the festival as well as winning prizes worth €4,000 for music equipment and recording.
Hosted in Odd Mollies in Drogheda, the competition featured four other unsigned acts from around Ireland. Modernlove., Exiles, Sonnets & Sisters, Oski Bravo, and JaXson came out on top following an online public vote earlier in April and performed for a judging panel comprising Today FM producer and DJ Ed Smith, Today FM Head of Sound Gavin Blake, Lecturer in Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute John McFadden, and Vantastival Director Benny Taaffe.
The Firestone brand aims to encourage and support emerging music talent in Ireland with this initiative which is now in its second year.
Colm Conyngham, Marketing Manager for Firestone Ireland said: “We were taken aback by the sheer talent on display. Supporting grassroots talent is a core value of the Firestone brand globally and so we are delighted to provide emerging bands in Ireland with an opportunity to bring their music to a wider audience.”
The Battle of the Bands competition represents an extension of Firestone’s authentic association with music that dates back to 1928 when Founder Harvey Firestone brought together musicians and music-lovers on the Voice of Firestone radio show in the USA, which gave known and unknown musicians a platform to perform on, and an audience to perform for. Supporting emerging “grass roots” talent is deeply rooted in Firestone DNA. “At Firestone we support these rising talents on their road to the main stage just like our tyres support drivers on the road,” added Colm Conyngham, Firestone Ireland.
Vantastival is a key event within Firestone Live, an original programme of music festivals across Europe in Spain, Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Denmark, Ireland and the UK. The family-friendly festival which takes place over the June Bank Holiday Weekend (June 1st to 3rd) in Beaulieu House, Drogheda will see a host of live musical acts perform, while a focus on the campervan lifestyle brings an extra dimension to the only festival of its kind in Ireland. For more information visit www.vantastival.com
For more information about Firestone, visit www.firestone.eu and for more information about Firestone Live visit http://musictour.firestone.eu/en