Capital High band wins first Big Blue Battle of the Bands in East Helena

It was a night of rock through the ages on Saturday at East Helena High School for the first Big Blue Battle of the Bands competition.

The event drew four bands: Brutus from Capital High, which took first place; Sk@zz from Capital High; Goldstrand from Helena High and The Clearance Rack from East Helena High.

The bands played one cover song from each of the 80s, 90s and 2000s eras, as well as a song of their choice — four in total. The bands were only judged on the three era-specific songs.

Brutus won with their renditions of "Message in a Bottle" by The Police, "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters and "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World.

According to Nick Edlund, business teacher at East Helena High School, the idea for the competition came from the students themselves. He surveyed them one day and they responded with "a ton" of interest in putting together a battle of the bands.

Edlund assisted where he could, but the students took the idea and ran with it. They handed out thousands of flyers, hung concert posters and ran their own social media marketing campaigns.

Entry to the concert was $5 and all the proceeds went to the East Helena High School store.

The event drew around 200 audience members.

"We have some really talented and capable kids, so it was great to give them a space to do what the love," Edlund said.

Edlund said the event was a great success and they hope to do it again in the future.