The results are in, and Sudbury hard rock band Blackwood Sinners has made the top 25 of of the CBC Searchlight Competition.
More than 2,000 musicians and bands from across the country entered their songs into the competition.
Most of the 25 finalists announced May 3 were chosen by an industry panel; two were chosen by popular vote through online polls. Blackwood Sinners is the only Northern Ontario band left in the competition.
Voting for the national round closes Monday, May 9 at 2:59 p.m. ET. From here, Searchlight judges Maestro Fresh Wes, Sarah Blackwood and Dallas Smith, will be deciding the three finalists who will move forward.
The fourth finalist will be determined by popular vote. The four that make it to the end will compete on CBC-TV Searchlight to become the 2016 winner.
Blackwood Sinners lead vocalist Andrew Boyd said he's excited the band's song, Reno, has made it so far in the competition.
“It's really surreal, actually,” he said. “We're kind of taken aback and still letting it sink in. It definitely feels very humbling, anyway.”
Boyd said the band, which only formed a year ago, entered the competition in an attempt to gain some exposure, and never expected to do so well.
It's an exciting time for Blackwood Sinners, as the four guys who make up the band are about to release their first album, “Against the Grain,” later this month.
To vote for the band, visit the the CBC Searchlight Competition website.
