Public Encouraged To Vote: America’s Cup Band

January 18, 2017

Close to 50 entertainers auditioned over the weekend to be a member of The Band, which will play at various events during the 35th America’s Cup.

The open auditions were held on Saturday, January 14 in the Earl Cameron Theatre beginning at 9:30am and were open to members of the public 16 and up. The majority of the contestants had pre-registered, but there were a number of walk ins who were also given the opportunity to showcase their talent.

The panel of judges has representatives from the America’s Cup Event Authority [ACEA] and the ACBDA and includes The Band Musical Director Robert Edwards. They have narrowed the pool of contestants to 25 in the categories of female singers, male singers, drummers, guitarists, bassists, keyboardists, percussionist and saxophonist.

The public can vote for their favourite contestants to reach the shortlist for final selection of The Band via a closed ballot on www.acbda.bm. The final decision of members of The Band sits with the panel of judges and an announcement will be made on February 2.

To vote for your favourite candidate, visit here. On that page, there is an audition video of each of the contestants who made it through to the next round. Simply click the voting tab to vote for your favourite contestant in each category by January 31.

Screenshot of the ‘female singers’ section from the voting page

The Band Finalists acbda

The  musicians that you can vote for are Evan Berry, Torey Tacklyn, Desmond Smith aka Rivah, Jonathan Simons, Tony Brannon, Brittany Cox, Cindy Smith, Francesca Dill, Liv Rose, Quinn Outerbridge, Raven, Angelis Hunt, Jesse Seymour, Jonathan Walker, Ramon Clarke, Johnae Furbert, Ramar Simmons, Stefan Furbert, Troy Washington, John Seymour, Leroy Francis, David Pittman, and Calvin Worrell.

Sancha Durham, Event & Business Solutions Support Coordinator, ACEA, says: “Firstly, we would like to thank all the performers who came out to audition for The Band.

“We were amazed at the wealth of talent in Bermuda from singers to drummers to guitarists. The auditions really opened our eyes as to the talent available on Island. We look forward to seeing who the public votes for to be shortlisted for the final round of The Band.”

The Band will play at various events during the 35th America’s Cup including Dock-Out shows, in the America’s Cup Village and at America’s Cup parties. They will learn each America’s Cup sailing team’s song as well as playing soca, reggae, Top 40 and traditional Bermuda-themed songs.

This is one of two major entertainment initiatives of the America’s Cup, which is also calling for all existing local bands, solo musicians and entertainers of all kinds to register to play in the America’s Cup Village during the five weeks of the events in May and June.

‘The Band’ is in addition to existing local talent scheduled for the America’s Cup Village, supplementing the local talent programme. To register for the local talent programme, email talent@americascup.com by January 31. For more information, please visit www.acbda.bm.

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Comments (27)

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  1. Islander says:

    Cindy Smith

  2. Smiths says:

    How about some of the local bar/pub owners, hotel reps etc attend these auditions and look for some potential local entertainment for their establishments. Since this is an ACEA event, let them get first crack at the bands/singers then offer others not selected by ACEA a chance somewhere else.

    • Mike Hind says:

      The folks out here already can’t get hired by bars and pubs!
      The bars and pubs aren’t really interested, sadly.

      • Jus' Wonderin' says:

        Not too many have the need for a ukulele then lmfao!

        • Mike Hind says:

          Or you could actually speak to something you know about, as you have no idea what’s going on with this topic.

  3. Onion Juice says:

    So what will happen to The Band after the circus is over?

    • really says:

      Well considering this is just another GIG…I assume they go back to what normal bands do and keep searching for that next gig….

      Why…what do you think should happen?

    • Mike Hind says:

      Um… they’ll go on with their lives, having made a little money and having had an experience.

      Why? Is that somehow a bad thing?

    • John says:

      Jesse Seymour is an awesome dynamic singer

    • Unbelievable says:

      Clearly that’s up to them if they wish to continue.

      For God’s sake….you’re always looking for some kind of hand out.

    • wahoo says:

      They will do one last gig at your farewell party we are throwing for you.

    • enough says:

      PLease get a life, firstly it is not a circus,k educate yourself. What the Americas cup has done for our youth alone, two presently in New Zealand competing all expenses paid\e, by who, Americas Cup. This is going to be a band coming together specifically for this why not just wish them luck and stop being so negative. You really must be a very unhappy person.

  4. Community First says:

    It looks like ACEA is doing a very good job of ensuring all interested Bermudians have an opportunity to participate in this opportunity. ACEA then just took it up a notch by inviting all Bermuda residents to vote on our talent – very inclusive and participatory.

    Thank you ACEA.

    You are providing yet another platform to showcase and host our Bermuda talent while showing us at our best to each other and the world.

  5. Letsbereal says:

    Wow. More people should have gone out and auditioned.!

  6. Banks says:

    Johnae Furbert is a gifted, talented female drummer. Bermuda has talent.

  7. Brian says:

    Thank goodness for the OBA the other moaners would have brought million dollar Beyoncé back again

    • Tired of the Negative says:

      @Brian:

      This has nothing to do with the OBA – as that party has nothing to do with the selection of artists who will perform at the America’s Cup…come on people, seriously!?

      • Double S says:

        Pretty sure the OBA are the ones that brought the AC to our shores which brought about opportunities such as these.

        But hey we know the narrative by now (i.e. all OBA is bad).

    • Vamos says:

      Actually, I’d rather have some relevant world class entertainers than Bermuda’s got Talent contestants. We need to be real about “local talent.” It isn’t particularly good. More of an anomaly in Bermuda than a norm.

      • PBanks says:

        I think you’re missing the point of what ‘The Band’ is all about.

        Besides, if ACBDA wished to bring in internationally well-known performers, they’d surely do so and have ‘The Band’ supplement them where required.

      • sage says:

        Vamos is a talentless idiot.

      • Mike Hind says:

        Bermuda has long been known to have a disproportionate number of world-class talent per capita.
        You are speaking about something you know nothing about.

        Also, relevant to whom?

    • PBanks says:

      There is literally no topic in Bermuda that doesn’t attract partisan (paid or otherwise) cheerleaders to try and one-up each other.

  8. Hurricane says:

    @ Brian, you are going to use that right until your end, hey. You sure sound like the type to be bringing it up now. Move on dude, this is 2017