{"id":73230,"date":"2025-12-06T01:31:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T01:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/73230\/"},"modified":"2025-12-06T01:31:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T01:31:22","slug":"rock-the-stage-finals-set-for-dec-14-one-of-swfls-largest-music-competitions-to-wrap-up-at-bay-street-yard-news-sports-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/73230\/","title":{"rendered":"Rock the Stage finals set for Dec. 14 | One of SWFL\u2019s largest music competitions to wrap up at Bay Street Yard | News, Sports, Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Prickly Dogfish, one of three band finalists. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

From hundreds down to the top nine, one of the region\u2019s largest music competitions is set for the finals next weekend.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

The fifth annual Rock the Stage all-ages music contest culminates on Dec. 14 at Bay Street Yard in downtown Fort Myers, as nine finalists across three divisions (singers\/artists, songwriters, bands) go head-to-head for the title, prizes, and bragging rights.<\/p>\n

Put on by the Lewis P.\u202fTabarrini\u202fChildren\u2019s\u202fMusic\u202fOutreach\u202fFoundation, organizers state this is the best showcase of talent they\u2019ve seen yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shine a spotlight on incredible talent, and every year, we find bands we\u2019ve never seen before,\u201d said Tabarrini Foundation Founder, Bob Tabarrini. \u201c(At the semifinals), I heard some bands that just made me smile. The bands that are going to the finals just stood out to me in their own unique way.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor someone like me who has been doing this for a minute, it refreshes my passion for recognizing how important music is.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Total Annihilation, one of three band finalists.<\/p>\n

PROVIDED<\/p>\n

The competition started with an audition process, with more than a couple hundred bands and singers young and not-so-young throwing their hat in the ring. From there, two different semifinals took place \u2014 one for singers and songwriters, and another for bands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now, the top three in each category will vie for prizes that include: one year of coaching at School of Rock Fort Myers, a custom press pack, studio time, a pro photo shoot, a cash prize (singer division), booking support, and of course, bragging rights.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gather career-enhancing resources and try to distribute them to the people we think can utilize them the best,\u201d Tabarrini said. \u201cWe try to boost these musicians who are getting ready to take on the next leg of their journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finalists for the singing division include: Amy Hart, Tyler Shep, and Mia Wilson.<\/p>\n

Finalists for the songwriting division are: Dakota Rivers, D-Rox, and Liv Schiller.<\/p>\n

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More Better Band, one of three band finalists.<\/p>\n

PROVIDED<\/p>\n

The three bands that have made the finals feature: Total Annihilation, Prickly Dogfish, and More Better Band.<\/p>\n

After each act performs, those in attendance will be able to vote in real-time via their smartphone on who they feel should be the winner in each category.<\/p>\n

Tabarrini said despite how Rock the Stage shakes out, the experience is one he hopes each entrant gains something from.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether an individual makes it through the semifinals or auditions to the next round \u2014 music is art,\u201d Tabarrini said. \u201cWe never want anyone feeling that they\u2019re never good enough. It\u2019s never about that. Music is subjective. Rock the Stage is a life-expansion opportunity that brings a lot of good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Entrants spanned various music genres, showing just how vast the music scene in Southwest Florida and across the state is.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Southwest Florida music scene is the coolest music scene on planet earth,\u201d Tabarrini said. \u201cIt really is. I would put it against Nashville, Los Angeles \u2014 as far as the talent, the diversity, the camaraderie. If you\u2019re a music-lover and not out exploring what we have to offer, you\u2019re missing out on all these treasures we have in our own backyard. That\u2019s one of the reasons we started Rock the Stage, to shine a spotlight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tabarrini is a lifelong musician who has an inside track on what\u2019s going on locally, and said every year, Rock the Stage brings new talent to light.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time we do this, we see acts that we\u2019ve never seen before and discover new acts and help launch their career locally,\u201d he said. \u201cWe had a band that won a couple of years ago, Two Looping Vibes\u2026they are one of the most booked bands in Southwest Florida. They went from being an unknown band from Cuba, to now being not enough days in the week to accept the bookings people are trying to hire them for.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Rock the Stage finals start at 3 p.m., with each act performing two songs. General admission is a $20 suggested donation at the door. VIP tickets are available for $75 and include perks like preferred seating, private bar\/table service, drink tickets, scratch-offs for chances to win raffles and more fun surprises.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t just a music event, it\u2019s a high-energy fundraiser supporting the Lewis\u202fP.\u202fTabarrini\u202f Children\u2019s\u202fMusic\u202fOut-reach\u202fFoundation, which provides free musical instruments, lessons and scholarships to kids in Southwest Florida who otherwise wouldn\u2019t have access to music education.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy showing up, you can be proud to know that you\u2019re supporting the Tabarrini Foundation\u2019s mission to provide free music education to kids,\u201d Tabarrini said. \u201cIt\u2019s not only a great thing to experience, but you\u2019re giving back to the community in a meaningful way that\u2019s truly making a difference.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome to see the amazing diversity and depth of the talent we have in this region and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information on Rock the Stage, and for VIP tickets, visit\u00a0www.rockthestageswfl.com.<\/p>\n

For more information on the Lewis P.\u202fTabarrini\u202fChildren\u2019s\u202fMusic\u202fOutreach\u202fFoundation, visit\u00a0www.tabarrinifoundation.org.<\/p>\n

Bay Street Yard is at 2136 Bay St. in downtown Fort Myers.<\/p>\n


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