Haverhill hosts rocking good time

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August 4, 2006

By Mike LaBella The Eagle Tribune Fri Aug 04, 2006, 11:56 AM EDT

HAVERHILL - Local rock bands will battle for a cash prize and for the opportunity to open for recording artists Entrain when Team Haverhill and the city team up to sponsor "Haverhill Rocks!"

On Aug. 26 from 2 to 8 p.m. in Railroad Square, three rock bands that will be selected as finalists after auditioning on Haverhill Community Television will open for nationally known rock band Entrain and compete for $1,000.

Finalists will also receive three free hours of recording time at the River's Edge recording studio, 14 Stevens St.

Auditions will be Aug. 15 and 16 at HCTV, 60 Elm St., and will be broadcast Aug. 19 at 8 p.m. on HCTV's Channel 22. Viewers can register their vote by calling the station Aug. 19 up until 11 p.m. or by sending e-mail.

Three finalists will be announced the next day on HCTV and online at www.whatsuphaverhill.com.

Haverhill Rocks! replaces last summer's Haverhill Fest, which was sponsored by the Haverhill Downtown Association.

In addition to the live music, Haverhill Rocks! will feature demonstrations by local artists, local food vendors and performers, chair massage and a booth where children and adults can design their own T-shirts.

Christine McCarron, one of the event's organizers, expects Haverhill Rocks! to be one of this summer's highlight events in the city.

"It's an excellent opportunity to showcase the changes that are happening in downtown Haverhill," McCarron said. "I think it's going to be a fun event."

Entrain has performed with artists including James Taylor, Bob Wier of the Grateful Dead, rock legend Bo Diddley and former president (and saxophonist) Bill Clinton.

Entrain performed the theme song for MTV's Real World Hawaii, appeared in the film and soundtrack to the 2001 Stephen Baldwin film "Cutaway," and its posters and T-shirts have been featured in the popular WB series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

The Haverhill Rocks! promotional posters feature Haverhill icon Hannah Dustin - playing a guitar.

"This event celebrates Haverhill's edge, resilience and attitude since colonial days," Shaw Rosen, chairwoman of Team Haverhill, said. "A lot of people don't realize that Haverhill has an incredible music scene. There are a lot of local bands, and the city has several recording studios. This event and the battle of the bands is a great way to showcase all that talent and get the whole community involved in the voting. I think it has the potential to become a signature event for Haverhill and the Merrimack Valley."

Tickets to Haverhill Rocks! are $5 online at www.whatsuphaverhill.com and $10 on the day of the event.

BAND AUDITIONS

* Visit www.whatsuphaverhill.com or call Christine McCarron at 603-233-5761 to register.

* $25 fee to register your band.

* Bands will perform two songs at the audition.

* Judging is by a representative from River's Edge recording studio, along with representatives from the community.