Six teen bands will compete for a recording contract and a spot on local radio Sunday at Reid Park's third annual High School Battle of the Bands.

Battle of the Bands, presented by Tucson Parks and Recreation, will kick off at noon at the Georges DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center and is expected to run until about 5 p.m.

All of the bands are made up of members ages 13 through 18 representing various genres. This year's lineup includes Andrew Candle, Cherry Limeade, Seldom, Florence Boulevard, Wyatt J. & Feer and Spruce Goose.

"We cannot wait to perform at this year's Battle of the Bands," said members of Florence Boulevard, who are back to compete for a second year in a row.

The teen group is used to performing in front of large crowds and has been featured at several other events, including a battle of the bands in Oro Valley.

And while they're no strangers to the stage, they understand the value of preparation leading up to a performance of this size.

"We have been continuing our weekly practices and honing our writing and performance skills," the band said. "What differentiates Florence Boulevard from other bands in our genre is how different we all are musically. We each gravitate towards different genres with a few bands that keep us together: Weezer, Nirvana, Tool, The Beatles, and many other classic rock bands."

Florence Boulevard isn't the only band representing diverse genres at this year's Battle of the Bands.

Andrew Candle, founder of Andrew Candle Music, described his band's genre as "free jazz."

Many of the teen bands take inspiration from musicians and genres of the past while adapting those styles to fit their own, making the event as fun for spectators as it is for performers.

"My favorite part was definitely just being able to see how people interact with one another onstage," said Grace Reed, who attended last year's event.

Reed said she was impressed by how the young bands were able "to work through all the technical difficulties that come with being small, local teen musicians."

"It was really inspiring to see people my age committing to music and also just having fun," she said. "I would totally recommend going, especially for youth who are into music and stuff like that."

While Sunday marks the third year the City of Tucson has sponsored the event, the Battle of the Bands has a longer history in Tucson.

The Arizona Daily Star hosted an annual Battle of the Bands in the early 2000s before the City of Tucson took over hosting duties three years ago, with the Star and other local organizations serving as sponsors.

The event is free to enter and attend. The grand prize is a spot on KXCI's "Locals Only" radio show and a full home recording package, including a copy of Ableton Suite.

For Florence Boulevard, the stakes are personal.

"We would use (the prize) to help us in the recording of our debut album," members said.

Gabriel Sadza is a student at University High School and Tucson Spotlight intern.

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation.