Rock the Ark Winner! - April 24, 2011
Local girl winner of statewide battle of the bands contest
WISCONSIN DELLS - Local teenage singer, guitar player and songwriter Katie Lafond has won a statewide battle of the bands competition.
Katie, a student at The Prairie School, is one of seven winners in the Rock the Ark Battle of the Bands contest, sponsored by Noah's Ark Waterpark, according to a Wednesday press release.
The seven winning bands, which include adult groups as well, all receive $1,000, a water park season pass for each band member and the chance to perform at Noah's Ark this summer, the release said.
The Rock the Ark competition started Feb. 28 on radio stations in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and Wausau. Musicians were asked to register performance videos on the radio stations' websites so listeners could vote on them from March 22 to March 27. Music acts with the most votes in each radio market were declared winners. Katie won for WRNW 97.3, according to the release.
Katie, 17, has been performing throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa for the past two years including at Summerfest last year. She released her first CD called "Race Your Pulse" last May. Katie is also currently nominated for a state Rising Star music award from the Wisconsin Area Music Industry, which will be awarded April 17.