Started in 2005 at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, the multiple month, battle of the bands has grown in size and reach since its inception. Each year 1000+ rising bands register to compete to win a once and a lifetime chance to perform in front of tens of thousands of fans at the Bamboozle Festival.

While other Battle of the Band competitions focus around cash prizes, The Break Contest serves as a development opportunity that helps expose the bands in each market, while providing the tools and guidance for each artist to mature and build a fan base.

For 2010, The Break Contest will see expansion from its home in New Jersey, reaching out to include New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Venues, cities and dates are below and registration begins today so let the battle begin.

Stone Pony (Asbury Park, NJ):
Preliminaries - January 10th, 17th, 24th, 30th, 31st
Semi Finals - March 13th, 20th
Finals - April 17th

Velocity-17 (Maywood, NJ):
Preliminaries - January 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st, February 21st
Semi Finals - March 14th , 21st
Finals (@ Stone Pony)- - April 18th

The Chance Theater (Poughkeepsie, NY):
Preliminaries - January 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st, February 6th
Semi Finals - March 7th, 14th
Finals - April 11th

Northern Lights (Clifton Park, NY):
Preliminaries - February 13th , 27th
Finals - April 3rd

Trackside Teen Center (Wilton, CT):
Preliminaries - February 20th, March 6th
Finals - April 10th

Crocodile Rock (Allentown, PA):
Preliminaries - January 9th, 30th, February 13th, 27th
Semi Finals - March 7th, 20th
Finals - April 17th

Eleanor Rigby's (Jermyn, PA):
Preliminaries - January 3rd, 24th, February 13th, 21st
Semi Finals - March 6th, 13th
Finals - April 10th