NORFOLK – Organizers of a new band competition here have one potentially big problem with their proposed July 31 event: no bands.

The Battle of the Bands competition, presented for the first time by the Norfolk Memorial Garden Association, and staged in the Memorial Garden Park on West Main Street, is supposed to be an opportunity for new and established local bands of all genres to showcase their best in half-hour sets, beginning at 1 p.m.

And there are prizes, including the grand prize of 10 hours of recording time at Thunder Roads Recording Studio, estimated at $450, or a cash prize of $200.

So far, however, there are no takers, according to Brian Leonard, president and business manager for Thunder Roads, the River Road, Norfolk studio. He suggests they may be lying low to see what happens.

“I think the bands usually wait until the last minute,” he said. “So, hopefully, we will have four or so.”

The judging will be done by a panel of at least three professionals, rather than by crowd choice.

“This is going to be judged by people in the industry, not by who brings the most friends,” Leonard pointed out.

Beginning at noon, hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks will be available.

Raffle tickets for $5 give audience members a chance to win a 32-inch Sanyo flat screen television.

Leonard said drawings will also be held for gift certificates to The Lobster House, Miss Molly’s Diner, Jreck Subs, Northern Music & Video, and Wal-Mart, to name a few.

Leonard is no stranger to staging these kinds of events, having held successful battles in Brasher and the St. Lawrence Centre Mall in Massena.

For more information on the Battle of the Bands or to enter, contact Leonard at 250-5635.