The Rainbow Restaurant has been supporting live music since 1983 by providing a stage and producing concerts to highlight the musical talent of this region and indeed South Africa. The Rainbow has continued to bring quality music to eThekwini through the years and has played a part in creating an audience for such big name artists as Jimmy Dludlu, Brian Thusi, Busi Mhlongo, Sipho Gumede, Jabu Khanyile, Winston “Mankunku” Ngozi, Madala Kunene as well as support from our audience for countless lesser-known artists. Now we go back to the grassroots to find the stars of tomorrow. To put it simply, to create meaningful careers by providing a springboard to fame.

From January 2010 the Rainbow Restaurant, in partnership with Umafrika, Yamaha supplied by Music Inc., KZN Music House, Prosound, and Durban University of Technology’s Department of Entertainment Technology is producing a battle of the bands titled “So, do you like our music?”

The competition will run every Sunday afternoon from January through to the finals in June, with the overall winner announced just before the start of the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, when we can say to our international visitors “So, do you like our music?”

We want to find the best emerging bands and give them a platform where we can ask the world, “So, do you like our music?”

The competition will not be easy. The judges are looking for the best of the best, so bands start getting ready now! The categories are as follows:

• Afro Jazz/Jazz
• Afro Beat/Mbhaqanga
• Maskanda
• Isicathamiya

Open category to include Afro Rock, Reggae, Hip- Hop, Kwaito, Pop. (Two groups from this category will go through to the grand finale)

If you have a band and wish to enter, you can collect entry forms from Umafrika and the Rainbow Restaurant. All entry forms need to be handed in to the Rainbow by 14 December 2009. This competition is only open to groups that reside within the boundaries of the eThekwini Municipality.

All applications received by the closing date will be scrutinized and then we will select the groups that will go through to compete in the actual heats. The competition and judging starts with the entry forms! You need to convince us that you deserve a crack at the wonderful prizes on offer.

The Rainbow has a state-of-the-art PA system supplied by Prosound, giving all bands a level playing field in which to express themselves to their best ability. Top quality backline will be provided by Yamaha through their retail arm, Music Inc., which is situated in the La Lucia Mall. Sound engineering support for all performances is supplied by DUT’s Dept. of Entertainment Technology.

The Winning band will receive a PA System worth R20 000 from Yamaha, supplied by Music Inc and an exclusive recording contract through KZN Music house.

All category winners will receive a substantial cash prize and they will get performance slots before 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup matches screened at the Rainbow Restaurant.

For more information, please contact Nicola Comfort 083 706 2294, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Neil Comfort on 083 463 8044 or the Rainbow on 031 702 9161.