Artvoice's seventh annual battle of original music provides an excellent showcase of local talent while also allowing artists a chance to compete for a $5,000 grand prize. Tonight, the fourth round quarterfinalists will perform at Nietzsche's to decide who moves on to the final round, scheduled for June 14th at Sportsmen's Tavern.

The event will feature indie rock band The Screaming Jeans, whose sound brings to mind Vampire Weekend, The Strokes, and The Smiths. Currently, they are taking time to record their debut album with hopes of releasing and promoting it sometime this summer. Punk rockers MayDay! will take the stage with their energetic, aggressive sound that has been compared to acts like Iron Maiden and Skate Korpse. Soul-pop artist Michael King will perform with his band after winning UB's 2013 Battle of The Bands. Mic N Life aka Mic Excel and Legal the Lifesaver of the Essential Vitamins Crew collective will bring their classic hip-hop sound to the competition and will be joined by EVC producer Covert and DJ Optimus Prime. Events like this bring out the best in our talented local music scene and are an excellent opportunity to get a taste of the eclectic mix of original sounds coming out of our city.