8th Street, MAS FiNA among Battle of the Bands winners

MAS FiNA comprises, from left, Dan Strickland, Sid Siddall, and Aaron Martinez. Enlarge

The big stage beckons for The Blade's Battle of the Bands winners.

In the third year for the event, five bands or acts have been selected among 79 entrants as the best of the best in their category. They'll have a chance to open for George Thorogood, Phil Vassar or Peter Frampton at the Aug. 12-15 Yark Northwest Ohio Rib-Off presented by The Blade.

And the winners are:

8th Street, a duo out of Monroe featuring Bob Zubkoff on vocals and Dave Ellison or Josh Berry on guitar. The artists have been playing together under different band names for almost eight years and they were victorious in the solo/duo category.

Matt Williams, a country performer from Temperance. Williams was a finalist in last year's Battle of the Bands, performing with Stranded at Red, White, KABOOM. This year his new group, Smokin' Guns, rose to the top of the country category.

Alt-rock group in theory featuring David Batey, David Born, Jimi Burk, and Aaron Konwinski, are the first group to win the contest in consecutive years, competing in the alternative rock category. Last year, the group opened for Foreigner at the Rib-Off and they perform the Toledo Walleye's theme song “Suit Up”.

MAS FiNA, a Sylvania band, won in the classic rock category. Performing together for more than seven years, Dan Strickland, Aaron Martinez, and Sid Siddall are best known for their “rocked out” remakes of old school rap tunes.

Toledo's Swamp Kings won in the rhythm and blues category. Featuring Joel Baker, Doug Robertson, Sue Kiefer, Jon Comes, and Tom Crumley, the group specializes in the styles of music found in places like Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, Memphis, and east Texas.

The Rib-Off will be at the Lucas County Fairgrounds in Maumee, Thursday-Sunday, August 12-15. Hours are 4-11 p.m, Thursday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, and noon-7 p.m, Sunday. General admission tickets are $7 Thursday, $10 Friday and Saturday, and $3 Sunday. There is no additional charge for the concert.

Visitors arriving between noon and 3 p.m. Saturday are admitted free. Children are admitted free Sunday. Advance tickets are available at all area Ticketmaster locations or online at www.ticketmaster.com.