Briggs & Stratton Corporation's Third Annual Online Battle of the Bands Looking for World's Best Band to Play World's Biggest Gig

Winner opens for major headliner on new Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage at the World's Largest Music Festival, Summerfest in Milwaukee

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Briggs & Stratton

Mar 18, 2011, 10:00 ET

MILWAUKEE, March 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Briggs & Stratton, a Milwaukee-based manufacturer of air-cooled engines for outdoor power equipment, and Summerfest, recognized as the World's Largest Music Festival, today announced entries for the third annual Briggs & Stratton Battle of the Bands competition are now being accepted at briggsbattleofthebands.com, the contest's official Facebook page. Over two years, more than 1,000 bands have participated garnering nearly 1 million votes worldwide. The winner receives an all-expenses-paid trip with rock-star treatment to open for a major headliner on Briggs & Stratton's Big Backyard stage at Summerfest on July 2nd.

"We are very excited about this year's Briggs & Stratton Battle of the Bands and all of the great talent we know will be submitting songs," said Todd Teske, President and CEO of Briggs & Stratton. "We are especially excited to debut our new Big Backyard stage with a large video screen and gorgeous green space. The Briggs & Stratton Battle of the Bands appeals to many consumers who enjoy music as much as they enjoy our reliable and easy-to-use products that get outdoor work done quickly so they can relax and enjoy life."

Last year's winner, This is Energy, an alternative band from St. Louis, opened for Gavin DeGraw. Band members met DeGraw, participated in a press tour, stayed at a luxury hotel and much more. The band recorded a series of videos promoting this year's contest on Facebook.

"If you're a band that wants to be in front of thousands of fans, performing at Summerfest, the World's Largest Music Festival, is as big as it gets," said Don Smiley, President and CEO of Summerfest. "The Briggs & Stratton Battle of the Bands can make that happen."

Bands can upload their music to briggsbattleofthebands.com. Fans vote March 14 to 11:59 p.m. April 15. The top 10 bands will then be announced and a selection committee will determine three finalists by May 7. Fan voting will resume May 13 and the winner will be announced May 28. The contest is free and additional rules/regulations are online.

SOURCE Briggs & Stratton