Hard Rock Rising

2 days ago

3 min read

The gloves are off, the amps are waiting and the final place in the Hard Rock Rising Valencia final is now up for grabs. On Wednesday 16 September, Hard Rock Cafe Valencia hosts the third and final qualifying round of this year’s competition, with Protocol Shift, Santonegro and Robert Grayd stepping onto the stage knowing that there is only one thing that matters: win the crowd, win the vote and get yourself into the final.

Hard Rock Rising is no ordinary local battle of the bands. It is part of Hard Rock’s global music challenge, designed to put emerging artists in front of new audiences and give them the chance to push their music beyond their home turf. Hard Rock describes the competition as a global stage for the next generation of artists, and with nine bands competing across four nights for one overall winner, the Valencia heats have already delivered plenty of noise, nerves and some seriously enthusiastic audience support.

The first two rounds have already produced their finalists. Sita Rizzi came through Round One after an impressive performance and a strong response from the crowd, while Moscow took Round Two after another tight night of live music and audience voting. Now Protocol Shift, Santonegro and Robert Grayd have one last chance to join them.

And if the first two rounds are anything to go by, Wednesday night is going to be anything but predictable.

The beauty of Hard Rock Rising at Valencia is that the audience isn't simply there to drink, nod politely and wait for somebody else to decide who wins. The crowd has a genuine say in what happens next, and that changes the atmosphere completely. Every band walks onto the stage knowing that the people standing in front of them are effectively part of the judging panel, which gives every performance an extra edge. You can feel the competition building as the night progresses, particularly when the voting opens and suddenly every band has a room full of potential supporters trying to make their case.

That has been one of the best things about the Valencia rounds so far. Despite the competitive element, there has been a real sense of community around the whole thing, with fans turning up to support their bands while also getting behind the other acts. The result is less corporate talent-show nonsense and more proper live music night, with the Hard Rock Cafe providing the suitably loud backdrop and the crowd supplying the atmosphere.

For Protocol Shift, Santonegro and Robert Grayd, Wednesday is therefore the big one. There is no next qualifying round, no second chance waiting around the corner and no hiding behind the setlist. They have one shot to make an impression, win the audience and collect enough votes to secure that final place.

Waiting for them on the other side are Sita Rizzi and Moscow, who have already earned their places in the Hard Rock Rising final on Wednesday 23 September. One more band will complete the lineup, setting up a three-way final that promises to be another seriously lively night at Hard Rock Cafe Valencia.

The whole thing has the feel of a proper local music scene moment, too. These competitions can sometimes become overly polished affairs where the personality gets sucked out of the room, but Hard Rock Rising has so far managed to retain the thing that matters most: people playing music in front of other people, with the audience making plenty of noise and having a genuine influence on the result.

So, Wednesday 16 September is the night. Protocol Shift. Santonegro. Robert Grayd. One place left in the final. The crowd gets its vote, the bands get their moment and Valencia gets another night of live music with something genuinely at stake. Round Three isn't just another heat. It's the last roll of the dice before the final.

For more information: HRC Valencia