Revolution 91.7’s Battle of the Bands plans on rocking the WKU Colonnade for a charitable cause Friday night.

The competition, in its third year, is part of the radio station’s RevFest 2012 and will feature 10 bands, both locally known and out of state.

It will start at 5 p.m., taking place in the Colonnade area in front of the Ivan Wilson Center for Fine Arts.

The winner receives a cash prize, the honor of being named Revolution’s Artist of the Week, and will be invited to be the opening act of the headlining band at Mayhem 2013.

A panel of judges will determine the winner. Burlington junior Savannah Burke, Revolution program director, encourages students to come check out the event.

“It’s a free event, and for a college student looking for something to do on a Friday night – especially those under 21 – it’s a really good time,” Burke said.

She said the bands Revolution is showcasing will “cater” to students.

“A lot of them are what I’d call ‘college progressive,’” she said. “Some are alternative country, some indie.”  

She said all of the proceeds collected during the Battle of the Bands, including entry fees from the bands, benefit New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding of Bowling Green.

New Beginnings uses horse-riding to bring “new beginnings to individuals with behavioral, emotional, mental and physical disabilities through the power of the horse,” according to the organization’s website.

Currently, the group is the second largest therapeutic riding center in the state, and has been a part of the Warren County community for 15 years.

Burke has hopes for a great student turn-out at the RevFest event.

“It depends on the weather cooperating, but once they realize it’s a free event, they’ll wander over and check it out,” she said. “It’s really worth it.”

Greenburg junior Nash Gumm, station manager, said this year’s showcase is not one to be missed.

“We’re going to have two bands from Nashville, a couple from Cincinnati,” Gumm said.“It’ll be nice to see local bands stack up against other bands from a different market.”

Gumm said the diverse bands on this year’s line-up will give more students an opportunity to hear something they’ll like.

“They’ll also have the opportunity, not only to see different acts, but to see other students perform,” he said. “The music scene here is insane compared to other towns our size.”