Originally published at 12:33 p.m. on May 2nd, 2025
Updated at 5:00 a.m. on May 7th, 2025
(KNSI) – Interact Club, a youth branch of St. Cloud Rotary, is planning a Battle of the Bands Wednesday at the Paramount Center for the Arts to benefit a new live music venue.
Member Miles Wannebo says six bands are competing, most with ties to a high-profile local program. “Well, I think a lot of it kind of pulls from the Wirth Center. They have a program called School of Rock, which is kind of a similar format to Battle of the Bands, with the difference that School of Rock bands are performing covers. These bands are [doing] original material.”
Proceeds will help Project 37’s efforts to get things percolating again at the home of the former Oblivion Coffeebar and Mercantile in downtown St. Cloud on 7th Avenue North. Music Teacher and Project 37 Member Jon Schulte explains what the group has planned now that it has closed on the building. “Our next priority is to build us a permanent stage and put that PA system in, and we’re going to be hopefully starting on construction of that in the next coming month.”
In addition to a coffee bar and live music stage, Project 37 intends to turn the upper level of the building into offices for the organization and music education classrooms.
A celebrity panel will judge the six groups competing in Battle of the Bands. While the deliberations are ongoing, a special act will perform a 30-minute set that is sure to be a treat for those in attendance. Schulte says, “Slip Twister usually only plays once a year at the Rock for Alzheimer’s in September every year. So, we were very surprised that they did say yes.”
A link to buy tickets to the concert is here. Project 37 hopes to keep the event as an annual fundraiser going forward.
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