Winners of the 1st Youth Music Competition “Stage Z – Youth Band Battle” Honored at Special Ceremony
The band Christiana Soull + Bikkø took first place in the competition.
With great success and the participation of dozens of young music groups from across the country, the first youth music competition Stage Z – Youth Band Battle, a new initiative by TIF-HELEXPO, concluded within the framework of the 89th Thessaloniki International Fair, held from September 6 to 14. The event offered unique moments of live music to exhibition visitors, while showcasing the vitality of Greece’s contemporary youth music scene.
The competition’s conclusion was marked by an award ceremony held a few days ago by the management of TIF-HELEXPO, attended by representatives of the co-organizing record label Fine Records, the ERT3 broadcasting network (communication sponsor of Stage Z – Youth Band Battle), and members of the jury panel. The contest drew significant interest, with 41 young bands submitting applications. Of these, 36 advanced to the next round, and finally 28 bands performed live, turning the specially designed open-air area between Pavilions 9, 10, and 13 into a vibrant music arena.
The demanding task of evaluating the participants was undertaken by a distinguished panel of professionals from the music industry:
• Joseph Powell – Fine Records, Musician & Senior Project Manager
• Mema Binopoulou – Fine Records, Manager & Public Relations
• Aki Rei – Music Producer
• Elena Angelidou – Radio Producer
• Nikos Stefanidis – Music Producer
After an intensive evaluation process, the jury selected the three top winners who stood out for their quality and artistic excellence:
1st Place: Christiana Soull + Bikkø
• Christiana Soulioti
• Vasilis Angelogiannos
2nd Place: Viceroy
• Giorgos Giavasidis
• Nikos Kamakas
• Alexandros Iliadis
3rd Place: Moses Remax
• Nikos Grapsas
• Alkis Belos
• Vasilis Padiotis
• Marios Ziavros
The prizes awarded to the winners are particularly significant, offering tangible opportunities for their professional development. Specifically, the first-place winner earns a record deal with Fine Records. The second and third-place winners each receive a live recording session at ERT3’s state-of-the-art radio studios, along with interviews on the station’s television and radio programs. The jury highlighted the high level of talent among the participants, noting that many of the bands demonstrated the quality and artistic potential required for a promising career in the music industry. The enthusiastic response from the young musicians and the outstanding artistic quality of the entries serve as the best reward for TIF-HELEXPO’s effort and provide a strong foundation for the continuation of the Stage Z – Youth Band Battle in the future.