We Are The City Win $150,000 in Battle of the Bands

Ninteen-years old and $150,000 in your pocket -- not a bad weekend for We Are The City, the grand prize winners of the Peak Performance Project.

The Kelowna, BC trio clinched the win on Jan 22 at a special showcase at Vancouver's historic Commodore Ballroom featuring the top finalists. Bend Sinister and the Left were also in the running for this new contest created by Vancouver radio station 100.5 The Peak and Music BC to help develop emerging artists.

Beating out 19 other acts selected from across the province was an unexpected surprise for We Are The City.

"I nearly passed out, I was so blown away," vocalist-keyboardist Cayne McKenzie tells Spinner. "Our manager was bawling her eyes out and we were just all hugging so hard. It was just incredible."
As for what the young lads of We Are The City intend to do with their hefty sum of development money, they need to get over the initial shock of being crowned Peak Performers of the Year before they can think about what the future holds. "Obviously there are plans, but for now we're blown away," he says, sounding as dumbfounded as the band appeared moments after winning the massive prize.

McKenzie goes on to reveal that his indie rock outfit -- which just re-released their debut, 'In A Quiet World,' last week -- was actually shooting for third. "We were 100 per cent expecting third place and we were so excited about that," he says. "$50,000 itself is unbelievable!"

The Peak judges had other plans for the talented rockers, though.

$150,000 is quite the jackpot, especially for a bunch of kids barely out of high school. McKenzie insists that just to be in the running for any of the prizes -- The Left won $75,000 for second place while Bend Sinister took home the $50,000 third prize-- was already beyond We Are The City's wildest dreams.

Deadline for application for the next Peak Performance Project contest is May 15, 2010. Information is available at the Peak Performance Project website.