Attention, upstart Twin Cities bands and the fans who love them: The eighth annual Are You Local? best-new-band search is back for 2017. New-band nominations are now open here, where you can listen to the latest crop of new local music.
The contest, which the Star Tribune adopted from the now-defunct Vita.mn in 2016, retains the same structure as last year, with St. Paul's Turf Club added to the festivities for the first time.
• Bands nominate themselves now through Jan. 16. Remember, musicians: You miss 100 percent of the notes you never make.
• Sixteen quality semifinalists will be chosen for a public vote that will run Jan. 18-26. Emotions will run high; ears will be sated.
• Up to five finalists will be featured in the Star Tribune. They will compete live at the Turf Club on Feb. 6 in a fever-pitched musical smackdown.
• One grand-prize winner will move on to the "Are You Local?" concert Feb. 17 at First Avenue (with a juicy lineup to be announced) and bag $2,000 in cash and prizes. And of course, more.
Any questions? Let's check out how the nominations are going. We'll see you at the shows on Feb. 6 and 17.
