When the eight hours of musical competition ended, Rekless Youth of Wingate emerged the first-place winner and took home $500 in the May 1 South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) Battle of the Bands. The Miricals of Monroe took second place and a $300 prize and Fire for Effect of Wadesboro won third place and $200. Shane Tracy of Waxhaw earned $100 as the winner in the individual performer category.

Band winners in this year’s Battle had to compete twice, once in preliminaries and again in the playoffs featuring six bands. In addition to the Battle winners, Cabin Creek, the Potrizoy Band and Pull of Gravity played a second round.

Other competitors included Just Monroe, James Talbot Trio, Gina Clarke, CTP, Perfect Rescue, Second Mile, Destination, Kross Fire, Marlin Cummings and Underground Owls.

Judges for the event were Charlotte radio personalities Unkle Jonathan White, Mary London, both of FryedRock.com, and Jack Anthony, also known as Jack at Nite. Performers were rated on musicianship, visual presentation, originality, audience response, professionalism and overall entertainment value.

In the 2008 SPCC Battle of the Bands, Rekless Youth took third place and the Miricals took second place. Fire for Effect and Rekless Youth performed in the 2009 Battle, but neither took home a prize last year. Shane Tracy was a newcomer to the Battle.

The third annual Battle of the Bands, sponsored by the SPCC Student Government Association, drew an audience of more than 600 to the Helen Goodman Amphitheater on the L.L. Polk Campus. The Saturday event was held in conjunction with the traditional Spring Fling and included free carnival rides, T-shirts and food.