Anticipation is building for Battle of the Bands which will take place this weekend for the first time in half a decade.
More than 10 local artists will battle it out for the top spot at the Woolstore Brewery on Saturday from 2pm until late.
The lineup will include Dennis O’Carroll, Esketamine, GERNZ, Greasy Rhysy, Fat Pony, Jesse and Jordan, Awoken, Menacidal, Rewind, The Short Sleeves, Stamina and B’s Music.
Battle of the Bands co-organiser Bronte Ellard said everything was in order for the big day.
“We have just put up some last minute third release tickets that are selling very fast,” she said.
“We’re really excited and we know the artists are really excited and we are set to have a really good crowd.
“We are standing at around the 200 mark at this stage, just under, so that’s very exciting. A little more than we originally anticipated so that’s great. We were starting quite small so it has grown before our very eyes.
“We have been chatting to a lot of like-minded people around the community and I think some super exciting things are going to be happening (for Mount Gambier music wise), so I am really excited to see what happens and I am so excited to see everybody on the weekend.
“I think we are all very, very excited. A little bit nervous which I think goes with it, but we are just really excited to support one another and have a really awesome day out.”
Battle of the Bands co-organiser Stephen Esnouf said it was a huge learning experience for the team and he hopes it encourages local businesses to get involved in the South East music scene.
“People want to be involved now they have seen it happen, so the hard work has paid off in that it has shown people that it can be done,” he said.
“People want to see live music, they do, but it takes the musicians and the businesses to work together to make it happen, so I think it is the start of some awesome stuff.”
Menacidal band member Josh Cutting said it was the metal band’s first gig after forming earlier in March this year.
“It would be great to see how it goes. We are all keen, but also nervous,” he said.
“It started off as just a couple of jams at my place and then we were like ‘no let’s take this somewhere, let’s see if we can do anything with it’ and we saw the advert for the Battle of the Bands and we thought ‘why not? Let’s go for it.’
“Being in a small town like Mount Gambier it is good to see this music scene broaden with more people coming in, more interested, bands getting out there and it’s good to see that everyone is wanting to participate and get out there.”
Rap artist Nic Beare who performs as Esketamine said it was a full circle moment for him as he won the local heat of the Adelaide Beer and Barbecue Fest Untapped competition in May before going on to win the whole competition in July.
“It is always exciting to play down here and especially (at the Woolstore Brewery). I have played here before and I think there’s a hundred more people that are going to be here this time.
“It is going to be a lot so I am definitely very excited, but also nervous as anyone would be.”
Local drag performer Ophelia Butt said she was “very excited” to host the event.
“I have hosted a few things in Adelaide music wise so it’ll be really good actually hosting more local music,” she said.
“It is something I have been interested in for a while and obviously working with Bronte, I am very much excited to meet all the local artists.”
