Four bands will be competing for a prize pack at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Grand Ballroom in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Khelan Todd, the mainstage coordinator for the UB, said the competition will also feature a band that is not competing.

“I think it’ll be interesting because it’ll be a blend of competition, but also concert,” Todd said. “We wanted to add a different element to the competition, that is why we chose The Well Reds.”

The Well Reds, an up-and-coming pop and alternative rock band, will open the show but will not be taking a part in the competition.

UB Chair Darius White said he is excited to feature The Well Reds at Eastern.

The Well Reds members include: Jeremy Ezell, Torin Degnats and brothers Sean and Rex Crawford.

“The Well Reds is this four member band of collective individuals who blend pop (and) alternative rock to create a unique sound from Atlanta, Georgia,” Todd said.

Todd said he likes the music and is excited for the concert.

“I have been listening to their music for some time now,” Todd said.

After The Well Reds performance, Todd said the bands in the competition will perform the rest of the night.

“The bands range in different sounds,” Todd said. “Usually you have hard rock or narrow range of music. Instead it is a vast array of music.”

White said the battle of the bands is a competition of four student bands.

Todd said the competitors are local bands and will be competing for a musician prize pack.

The prize pack includes free studio recording time, a band photo shoot and the UB care packages with many the UB items.

The winners may also receive the opportunity to play at the annual Doudna Fine Arts Center event, Celebration: A Festival of the Arts.

“It’s all live music and there is something about when you see someone playing the music, instead of just hearing it in the background,” Todd said. “There is something that feels good about it, it is a great feel-good event.”

Todd said he thinks students will like to see how passionate the different musicians are.

“The contestants love what they do and their showmanship is great; they love to put on a show,” Todd said. “It is entertaining to watch.”

Todd said he hopes Eastern students come to the event.

“It is important that we support the students in their musicianship, because this is what they love to do,” Todd said. “I think it will mean a lot to them if a lot of students support them.”

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.