CEDAR CITY – The multi-region Battle of the Bands took place at Canyon View High School Feb. 16 and The Banana Sandwich, a band from Canyon View, took first place and will move on the state competition.

The second and third place teams, Go Lucky Militia from Pine View High School and Halfway Home from Snow Canyon High School, respectively, also will go to the state contest.

Jana Millett, region Parent Teacher Association director, said the multi-region covered Iron, Beaver, Garfield, Kane and Washington Counties. However, only five schools chose to participate, so each of the schools was allowed to send two bands.

Schools represented were Canyon View, Enterprise, Pine View, Snow Canyon, and Tuacahn high schools. Tuacahn sent one band and each of the others sent two.

Canyon View senior Robert Lawrence, drums and vocals for The Banana Sandwich, said he and his friend Brennon Peterson, lead guitar and vocals, have been playing together for a little over a year, but the band was only formed about a month ago, and they put together a couple of songs to participate in Battle of the Bands.

Other members of the band include Riley Brown on bass, Katie Lee on keyboard, and Russell Smith on the rhythm guitar. All of them are Canyon View High School students.

Lawrence said he was surprised his band had won, but “really excited.”

Aaron Hall, writer, guitar, and vocals for Go Lucky Militia, said he started recording by himself a while and got some of his friends together over the past six months to form the band. Two days before

the contest they got a piano player who wasn’t ready to perform last week but will be ready in time for state.

Hall said there were a lot of good bands at the multi-region competition and he had doubted his band would even place.

Before third-place band Halfway Home performed, Master of Ceremonies Clint Kelly said the group formed in April 2009 and recently attended “America’s Got Talent” in Los Angeles. Though the band was representing Snow Canyon High School, it included members who attended SCHS, PVHS, Dixie High School, and Dixie State College. One of its members was too young to participate in the Battle of the Bands, he said.

Each band performed a cover song and an original piece. Judges were Roger Olcott, Russ Cash, and Tim Cretsinger.

Patsy Chandler, student involvement commissioner with the Utah PTA, said the students who participate are great kids. The purpose of the event is to encourage the young musicians to use their talents.

“It’s all about giving the kids opportunities,” she said. “It takes a lot of courage for these kids to get in front of their peers and play.”

She said it is a great opportunity for the bands to participate. The judges give the kids good feedback, and they often end up forming friendships with kids in other bands.

“They really support each other,” she said.

She said this is the eighth annual Battle of the Bands, and the first through third place bands will go to state on March 20. There are four multi-region events, and will be 13 bands total.

The 13th band, referred to as a wildcard band, is chosen by votes on a website. Chandler said those interested in voting can go to www.fighttheugly.com, and bands who want to be eligible will have uploaded their music. Last year the wildcard band ended up winning at state, she said.