Bands set to battle at Main Street Live

Following two weeks of rainouts, Main Street Live kicked off its 21st year of offering free summer concerts last Friday with a performance from classic rock band Legacy in front of a crowd of over 1,100. The show came with less drama than the previous two weeks as the Park Theater was available as a contingency plan in case of rain. This week, without a safety net, the uncertainty returns. The Park will be occupied this weekend and is unable to serve as a backup.

Assuming weather allows, the popular Battle of the Bands, introduced to Main Street Live last year, will return this Friday at Security Federal Savings Bank's West Lawn with three bands battling for a $500 prize and a chance to join the lineup for the 2026 Main Street Live season. Competing will be Memory Train, Sunset Tabernacle and August Lows, in that order.

Each band will perform a 30-minute set with a short break for the next band to set up between performances, and a break for counting the votes after all the bands have played. The crowd will determine the winner with its donations. Each dollar donated to Main Street McMinnville in the name of a band will count as one vote for the group, with the money helping ensure the continuation of Main Street Live as a free event. The band with the most votes will be declared the winner.

"We welcome everybody to come enjoy a night of live music, vote for your favorite band and help us crown this year's winner," Main Street McMinnville Executive Director Jennifer Flatt Meredith said. "Your support helps fund Main Street Live and Main Street McMinnville's revitalization initiatives, helping keep our downtown vibrant, active and growing. Ninth Sun won last year's Battle of the Bands and earned a spot opening for the Joe Harvey Band this year at our Fourth of July show held at Milner Recreation Center."

Murfreesboro-based band Memory Train comes to the competition with decades of performing experience and a setlist that fuses classic rock, blues and country.

Locally based Sunset Tabernacle was founded in 2022 and bills itself as a sideshow and blues explosion, built on decades of beautiful blues and soul music.

August Lows is a McMinnville-based Southern rock band which took part in last year's Battle of the Bands. They'll be gunning for the top spot this year after placing second to inaugural champion Ninth Sun.

Current weather forecasts present reasons for concern. As of this writing, Accuweather predicts Friday will bring a high of 84 degrees with a 56% chance of precipitation and a 50% chance of an afternoon thunderstorm. If weather becomes an issue, a decision on the show is expected to be made by noon Friday.

Assuming the weather cooperates, vendors will open at 6 p.m. and the show will start at 7 p.m.

Main Street Live is presented by Main Street McMinnville and is sponsored by Main Street Media, Security Federal Savings Bank, Main Street McMinnville, Bridgestone, McMinnville Electric System, Scooter's Coffee, Dr Pepper, Ben Lomand Connect, Law Offices of Galligan & Newman, Warren County, City of McMinnville, The Cafe at Tree City, The Butcher and Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District.