How to help this Columbus rock band win $10,000 and play at Hollywood Bowl concert

Mark Rice
Facebook.com/Proxiband

You can help a Columbus rock group win a national contest for $10,000 and a chance to play during a concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

The local band, Proxi, has advanced through four stages of the competition called Opening Act, conducted by audio content and entertainment company Audacy of Philadelphia:

  • Selected by a panel of judges to be one of an unspecified number of musical acts in one of an unspecified number of groups.

  • Selected by public online voting July 11-21 to be in the top 10 of their group.

  • Selected by public online voting July 21-28 to be in the top 15 of their group.

  • Selected by public online voting July 28-Aug. 4 to be in the top 10 of their group.

Now, voting for the top five at theopenact.com is ongoing until Thursday at 11 p.m. EDT.

If Proxi wins their group — and they have a mighty good chance as they rank second as of Tuesday morning — they will advance to the quarterfinals. They can also qualify for the playoffs as a wildcard by finishing second in their group. The grand prize winner is scheduled to be announced Sept. 15.

The competition allows one free daily vote per person. Additional votes may be purchased.

The Ledger-Enquirer didn’t reach any Proxi representative before publication, but here’s what the band says about themselves on their website:

Band members are lead vocalist Chloe Smith, guitarist Taylor Mills, bass player Logan Hickman, rhythm guitarist Steven Lawson and drummer Daniel Waldroupe.

Proxi describes themselves as a “fun and energetic blend of rock fusion.” They recorded their EP “Neon” at the FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Smith’s voice is compared to Gwen Stefani and Amy Winehouse.

The band’s page on the Opening Act website provides the following Q&A:

What do you enjoy most about being a musician?

“We are in love with music. Making music frees our souls and lets us express ourselves in ways that we never thought we could. We love the rush we get from writing songs, meeting new fans and spreading positive, wild energy to the crowd.”

Which musician would you like to collaborate with?

“Billie Eilish, Blink 182, Anberlin, Smashing Pumpkins, Arctic Monkeys.”

If you were the next Opening Act, what would you do with $10,000?

“We would invest all the money into our band and travel!”

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