Battle of the Bands will be held every Thursday in June at Vino's.

LITTLE ROCK — For the second year in a row Vino's welcomes 20 Arkansas bands to duke it out in its Battle of the Bands. Last year the winning band was Borderline Blasphemy, taking home $500, studio time, a T-shirt design by Fierce Dragon Designs and five guaranteed shows at Vino's.

The 2009 version of the battle includes 20 Arkansas bands showcasing their original music during 20 minute sets with five bands playing a night over four Thursdays in June. Bands will be judged on performance, originality and crowd reaction/participation with the five top bands from all four Thursday Battle Dates advancing to the finals.

The winner of the second annual Vino's Battle of the Bands will receive $500, studio time at Little Rock's Wolfman Studios and five guaranteed shows at Vino's along with other prizes. The four runner-up bands will also receive prizes.

"I believe [the battle] will help shed some light on some great talent," Vino's talent buyer and Battle of the Bands organizer Samantha Allen said. "If you have ever been in a band you know that $500 is a huge help. That could be used to purchase T-shirts, a down payment on a van, rent for band room and who knows what else.

"I mostly looked for bands that I felt had potential and some originality to their style and sound. A lot of the bands really had great recordings and seemed very professional. It was not easy to choose."

The music kicks off each Thursday in June at 8 p.m. with a $5 cover. The finals will be held July 18 at Vino's. Here's the lineup for each Thursday with a note or two about each band performing.

Thursday

Chasing The Shadows: The Maumelle four-piece just played their first show at The Village in April. It's bright, pop-flavored rock music in the vein of John Mayer and Coldplay.

Black Suit Karma: The Conway post-grunge/metal act released their debut album, Negative White, in October 2008. It's bone-crushing, riff-driven music influenced by Alice in Chains and Pantera.

Calling Tokyo: Adrenalized metal from Northwest Arkansas with the staccato riff of "When It Goes Down," a single that bears the Buckcherry stamp of approval.

Out of Ashes: The Pine Bluff alternative metal group has just released their full-length, debut album: a melodic, hard-hitting affair.

Swiss Family Knives: It's pop-flavored rock 'n' roll heavy on the keyboards from this Little Rock five-piece.

June 11

This is Jacob: It's guitar-driven, sparkling indie rock with a Christian message. The Little Rock band will be playing a number of dates at the Cornerstone Festival in Illinois in late June and early July.

Rigby Fawkes: The little brother of former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody, Daniel Moody, is the chief songwriter behind this Little Rock quartet. Trumpet, piano, guitar, Rhodes, mandolin and drums combine to create what the band calls progressive alternative rock.

She's The Antagonist: Texarkana resident Keith Tubbs is the mastermind behind this acoustic-driven, indie rock outfit influenced by Bright Eyes.

Danger Ready: The Little Rock band uses loud drum beats and distorted guitars to create their indie rock.

Eve's Descent: The Little Rock quartet is known for its Southern style, hard-rocking, guitar-driven grooves.

Jun 18

Afternoon Delight: While the band's name recalls the Starland Vocal Band's 1976 No. 1 hit, the quartet kicks out some seriously heavy, blues-soaked hard rock.

Rusty Hook: The guys who used to play in the metal band Just Dead reformed in May 2007 as this hardcore metal band from Searcy.

Townsend T: Townsend T is the name of this acoustic rock group's female vocalist, and the group's sound stretches from Dave Matthews Band being fronted by a female to intimate female singer/songwriter hymns.

Ray Bridgemay: The Cabot band blends together folk, rock, blues and reggae to create their mesmerizing jamband sound with the angelic vocals of Kendra Wilson.

Sea Of Separation: Influenced by Story of the Year and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, the Hot Springs alternative rock band is working on a new EP to be released in the fall.

June 25

A Plea For Mercy: Imagine Disturbed or Seether fronted by a female. The sextet proves the Arkansas Delta - namely Dumas - knows how to headbang with the city slickers.

Fallen Empire: The doom and gloom metal of this five-piece ended in 2004 after a seven-year run that saw them make a name for themselves on the underground metal circuit. Now the growl is back.

The Battle Within: Roaring out of Fayetteville with a hardcore metal sound, the five piece is preparing to finish their debut album in November.

Inner City Lights: The newbie Little Rock outfit cranks out indie rock influenced by The Mars Volta, Death Cab For Cutie and others.

A Darkened Era: Growling, thrash metal music influenced by Lamb of God and Unearth is what this Little Rock five piece produces.