The Heavyweights Champions Will Battle At The Intersection
West Michigan local bands are competing to for cash and prizes and a chance to perform at the Upheaval Festival. The battle of the bands champions have been announced.
Heavyweights 2026: Battle Of The Bands Returns Bigger Than Ever
West Michigan local bands, are competing to perform at a major music festival, win cash, a radio interview, and be critiqued by industry professionals.
Heavyweights were once a yearly staple at the Intersection in Grand Rapids, and now the battle of the bands is back, bigger and better than ever.
The Intersection has teamed up with The Rock Station 97.9 WGRD to give local artists a chance to earn radio promotion, compete on stage, and vie for a grand prize: $2,500 in cash, a performance slot at the Upheaval Festival, a primetime WGRD interview, and a song played on air. Second place will receive $500 in cash.
Plus, industry pros will critique the winning band, including Jackie from Better Noise Music (home to Five Finger Death Punch, In This Moment, Nothing More, The Funeral Portrait, Bad Wolves, Yellowcard, and more) and Erin from Q Prime Management, who handles Radio Promotion & Marketing for artists like Metallica, Pantera, Disturbed, Volbeat, Three Days Grace, Greta Van Fleet, and more. Both will also provide the winning band with a personalized letter offering the same kind of professional guidance they give to the artists on their own rosters. This alone is priceless.
Read More: Win Pit Tickets to Five Finger Death Punch in Grand Rapids
Heavyweights: Champions to Battle at the Intersection April 4, 2026
The Heavyweights Finalists:
The preliminary rounds were held at Elevation. Below are the winning bands from each night and the wildcards:
- Round 1 - Winner is Flood the Desert
- Round 2 - Winner is Some Peoples Kids
- Round 3 - Winner is Secret Satan
- Wildcards - He Who Dwells, Izzy Reign
The Heavyweights bands have been announced for the finale at the Intersection on Saturday, April 4. Doors at 6:30, the final battles begin at 7 pm. Flood the Desert, Some Peoples Kids, He Who Dwells, Izzy Reign, and Secret Satan will compete in the final battles. Once again there will be fan voting on-site. There will be boxes and ballots for the championship battle that the Intersection staff will count. Then a winner will be announced at the end of the final battle. The final will winner will be based on fan votes, how they worked with the crew, ticket sales, and a panel of judges.
THE ENTRY PERIOD HAS ENDED.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
👇BELOW: Michigan Artists and Bands Who Have Been Inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame👇
Michigan Artists and Bands Who Have Been Inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame
Gallery Credit: Laura Hardy
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