Rocking Out with Battle of the Bands
There’s something electric in the air at UIC this spring—it’s that time of the year when student musicians take the stage at Battle of the Bands (BOTB). Hosted by the Center for Student Involvement and UIC Radio, BOTB is more than just a live music competition. To learn more about what’s coming this year, UIClife connected with the team at UIC Radio.
What is BOTB?
Battle of the Bands is UIC’s annual showcase of student musical and comedy. The winning band earns a 30-minute segment at Spark, UIC’s annual music festival. As an added bonus, Creative & Digital Services (CDS) collaborated with 2023 BOTB winner, Lavender Point, to produce a music video. The 2024 BOTB winner, Earl Hester and the Nasty Boys, recently worked with CDS on a soon to be released music project. In the mean time, here's their performance from last year's battle.
Bands are selected through an audition process, and those who make the cut often bring their best to the stage. UIC Radio Brand Director Vanessa Saenz emphasizes that originality plays a big role in the selection process. “We consider [bands who play covers], but we like to see more original music,” she explains. The BOTB committee votes democratically, but there is a preference to showcase unique sounds and a mix of genres.
What Makes BOTB Special
Over the years, BOTB has grown beyond just a simple musical show. The team mentions adding comedy acts who would serve as emcees, helping create a fuller event experience with no downtime in between the musical sets. Program Director Gavin Bohan recalls how the event has evolved through different locations and formats. “We used to have it in different concert hall spaces, like Bottom Lounge,” he says.
BOTB has also become a space for excitement. For Brand Assistant Michaela Clegg (Mick), a favorite part is watching friends perform live. Mick noted that they usually prefer original music over covers, but one band that stood out from last year was Drive, Victoria, with their cover of “Misery Business” by Paramore. Vanessa adds that the variety of genres makes BOTB stand out. Iva Peric, Station Manager, reflects on how unpredictable weather adds to the BOTB charm. Rain or shine, the energy never fades—last year’s cold didn’t stop the crowd from showing up and enjoying the live music.
Transitioning from BOTB to Spark
The UIC Radio team sees BOTB as a meaningful launchpad for student musicians. Iva points out how BOTB acts like a trial, offering bands the chance to showcase their music in front of a crowd. The slightly intimate setting helps them ease into live performances and build more confidence on stage. Iva also mentions how it helps musicians practice time management by planning and pacing their music as each set lasts for about 15 minutes.
For the BOTB winner, the journey doesn’t end there. They would go on to perform at Spark, which is a chance to play for a much bigger crowd on a professional stage. The UIC Radio team shares that a lot of college bands don't have a platform to get their names out there. Winning BOTB means getting publicity. “There’s no better way to promote your music to the entire UIC community than having that Spark slot and having your name on the poster,” Iva says. These are physical resources that can be used later to help push the band forward after college.
Getting Involved
Student musicians thinking about trying out are encouraged by the UIC Radio to go for it. Vanessa and Mick emphasize that the community is there to support and uplift artists, and not to judge. Gavin, who has performed at BOTB on two occasions, talked about how it's an experience that bands don’t go through alone. With eight acts total, there is a sense of camaraderie. "Everyone is trying to have fun,” Gavin mentions, adding how no one is uptight or harsh to each other.
Even if students aren’t performing, there is still plenty to enjoy. The UIC Radio team emphasizes how BOTB is a social event, and a great chance to connect with friends or meet new people. With finals also approaching, it offers a perfect moment to unwind and take a break from studying. Iva highlights that events like BOTB are part of a broader effort to create “third spaces” at UIC—where students can build community. Taking full advantage of what’s offered, such as showing up and engaging in campus events, is a great way to make the UIC experience more fun and meaningful. It helps make UIC feel like a place to stay, connect, and belong.
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For students that are aspiring musicians, attending BOTB is a great way to connect with other artists and learn more about performing on campus. For those that enjoy the live music or are looking to unwind and have fun before finals, be sure to attend. This year’s Battle of the Bands is April 30th, on UH Lawn from 5-8PM. Join UIC Radio to celebrate UIC’s musicians and wrap up the year!