Hard Rock Tampa Highlights Local Talent through Annual Battle of the Bands

^{Members of Face the Fence kick off the Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa. (Photo: Earl Burton / Casinos.com)}

The first step is always the toughest, especially for emerging musicians trying to make a name for themselves. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa understands this dilemma well and has stepped for the last eight years to give local musicians a shot at their the “big break." 

The Hard Rock Rising Tampa Battle of the Bands has become a staple event in the local music scene, aiming to find the best up-and-coming band in the Tampa Bay area. 

Connecting with the Tampa Bay Community

Each year's event is an effort from Hard Rock to show their support for the community through amplifying the local music scene. It not only benefits Hard Rock as a company but also makes a huge impact on the musicians. Teaming up with local radio station 97X, the Hard Rock offers its Hard Rock Café stage as the “final” battleground for artists to play in front of fans, judges, and various professionals in the industry.

“It is important that we do this, to give these bands their chance at the big time,” said Hard Rock Entertainment Manager Alexis Roos. “I always enjoy watching the bands perform. It is important that we do this to be able to give something back to the community.”

This year's competition began long before they set foot on the Hard Rock Café stage for the show. Over 50 bands submitted two of their original songs each. A 97X committee narrowed them down to the top three finalists, with a special fourth “wild card” spot offered to one band to join the top three for the performance on Wednesday night. 

Once the “Final Four” were determined, they would perform a set of three to four songs on the Hard Rock Café stage. The bands would then be judged on four aspects of their performance - Originality (30%), Musicianship (30%), Vocal Ability (20%), and Marketability (20%).

The band with the highest score would be crowned the champion of the 2025 competition and walk away with the winner-take-all prize that included airplay on 97X and a featured slot on an upcoming 97X-sponsored show.

Diverse Styles Create an Excellent Show

Roos not only kept the energy high as the emcee for the event, but she also provided key background information on each act before they performed. 

Up first was the “wild card” entry, Face the Fence. They were joined by the top three acts picked by 97X: Eleni and the Uprising, NICAEA, and Saints of Saturn. All four bands showcased the diverse rock stylings that define the Tampa Bay music scene. 

Face the Fence, the youngest band on stage, started off the show strong with an excellent set that showed off their alt-rock style. The performance set a high bar for the performers that followed.

Eleni and the Uprising, who delivered a true pop-punk performance in the 2025 Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands.

They were followed by Eleni and the Uprising, who could've taken a page from Avril Lavigne's playbook with pop-punk energy. NICAEA delivered melodic rock with dual female vocalists leading a powerful rock effort. In contrast, Saints of Saturn represented the “old school” sounds of '70s-inspired throwback rock. 

All four bands presented outstanding original sets, and not a cover song was heard all night. But someone had to be the last one standing to take home the title.

After a great deal of deliberation, judges narrowed down the two finalists to NICAEA, and Saints of Saturn. The audience, comprised of fans of all four bands, waited anxiously to see who Roos would announce as the winner. When Saints of Saturn were announced as the 2025 champions, their fans exploded in applause that filled the Hard Rock Café.

Hard Rock Rising Tampa's Battle of the Bands continues to be a valuable showcase for talented local musicians. The competition highlights the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's commitment to supporting local artists and connecting with the community over its 20-year history in Tampa.

With another successful event in the books, preparations are surely underway for the 2026 competition. And you can bet that the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa will once again help give the next generation of musicians their shot at making it big.

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