Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is once again calling on local bands to take the stage at Hard Rock Cafe for the chance to play at the 2023 97x Next Big Thing Music Festival. 

As part of this year’s Hard Rock Rising Tampa – Battle of the Bands, music acts will compete for a shot at next level fame. 

Rising to the Next Level

Beginning on Monday, October 16, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa will open online registration at TampaHardRock.com/Rising. All entrants will need to be at least 16 years of age and submit a completed Reverb Nation webpage with two original song uploads. The submission period ends on Wednesday, October 25.

On Thursday, October 26, committee voting will take place to determine the top three finalists from all eligible entrants to participate in the live competition. In addition, four to six wildcards will be chosen. On Friday, October 27, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa will announce online the three finalist bands and solicit fans, via a social media vote, to select the last wildcard finalist.

On Wednesday, November 1, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa will announce one wild card finalist band who will battle at the Live Competition on Tuesday, November 14, at Hard Rock Cafe.

Winner Takes All

The Live Competition will produce one Grand Prize winner who will win a performance slot at the 2023 97x Next Big Thing Music Festival at Coachman Park in Clearwater, FL.

The Live Competition judges will include a variety of music industry professionals. There will be five categories included in the judging criteria – Originality (30 percent), Musicianship (20 percent), Vocal Ability (20 percent), Stage Presence (20 percent) and Audience Reaction (10 percent).

For full rules and more information on Hard Rock Rising Tampa – Battle of the Bands, please visit TampaHardRock.com/Rising.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

Owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is one of the largest and most successful casinos in the world offering award-winning gaming, hospitality, and entertainment. The casino offers nearly 5,000 of the hottest slot machines, 179 table games, a state-of-the-art Poker Room featuring 46 tables and a smoke-free Mezzanine Level Casino. The 800-room hotel is AAA Four Diamond rated and proudly offers 12 restaurants, including upscale dining venues Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, The Rez Grill, and Cipresso. Amenities include the 1,500-seat Hard Rock Event Center, which hosts some of the nation's hottest entertainers and must-see concerts; a 60,000-square-foot pool deck area with three pools and 19 cabanas; as well as the luxurious Rock Spa® & Salon. The resort is located off I-4 at North Orient Road and Hillsborough Avenue, about 10 minutes east of downtown Tampa. For more information, please call 866-502-PLAY or visit us online and via Facebook, X and Instagram.

About Hard Rock®:

Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in over 70 countries spanning 290 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 87,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. In 2023, Hard Rock Hotels was honored by J.D. Power’s North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study as the number one brand in Outstanding Guest Satisfaction for the fourth time over the last five years. Hard Rock was also honored by Forbes among the World’s Best Employers, as well as Best Employers for Women, Diversity and New Grads, Best Brands for Social Impact, Customer Service All-Star and a Top Large Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming, and Entertainment Industry. HRI became the first privately-owned gaming company designated a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal in 2021 and has since been honored threefold.  In the 2022 Global Gaming Awards, Hard Rock was named Land-Based Operator of the Year for the second time in four years. In 2021, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos received first place ranking in the Casino Gaming Executive Satisfaction Survey conducted by Bristol Associates Inc. and Spectrum Gaming Group for six of the last seven years. Hard Rock International currently holds investment grades from primary investment rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.

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Media Contacts

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

Darien Cobb, Manager of Public Relations and Community Affairs, (813) 627-7788, [email protected]

Sara Coulter, Public Relations and Community Affairs Specialist, (813) 627-7623, [email protected]

Bitner Group Public Relations

Chris Dirato, Bitner Group, (954) 703-7938, [email protected]