Luminate to headline 'Battle of the Bands'
Deadline to enter Jan. 26

The Tyler-based Christian rock band Luminate will perform Feb. 24 in Whitehouse.

The Tyler-based band Luminate will perform at the culmination of Ambassador Baptist Church's 'Battle of the Bands," scheduled Saturday, Feb. 24 at Cain Elementary.

The ambient indie rock band was formed in Memphis, where lead vocalist Sam Hancock attended Visible School of Modern Music and Music Arts. However, the band's roots -- and current base -- are in Tyler, where four of the members were born.

Guitarist and vocalist Lee Rannals and drummer Brad Culpepper both graduated from Whitehouse High School. Other Luminate members are Dusty Jakubik and Cody Clark.

The group has recorded a three-song demo CD in Austin and has performed in Tennessee, Michigan, Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Illinois, where they played for 25,000 at the Cornerstone Festival in 2006.

Luminate will play after six area groups compete in the first "Battle of the Bands."

To enter, bands should submit a performance video by mail to: Ambassador Baptist Church, 10495 CR 2167, Whitehouse, TX 75791, Attn: ABC Battle. Entries must be received by Jan. 26.

Bands must not be signed with a record label.

Each band must pay a $25 entry fee; the bands will be chosen based on video of a live performance of an original song. During the competition, bands will be allowed two songs (one has to be original).

Six bands (and three alternates) will be chosen to compete for $150 plus a five-hour recording session at Rose City Sound and Production.