Hard Rock Cafe Malta (Baystreet) will host a series of live events where local bands will be giving their best onstage in their bid to claim the top spot and represent Malta in Hard Rock Rising’s global battle of the bands competition.

Facebook fans from around the world have narrowed down more than 10,000 hopeful participants to a select few that will take part in the next round of live performances.

The Maltese preliminary battles will feature local acts Infinite Loop, Native, Different Strings and Billy Lee. They will be judged by a panel comprising experienced local personalities Wayne Camilleri, Michael Bugeja and William Mangion Mascoli.

One winner will be chosen from each round to compete in the final local battle on March 27, where judges will select the band to represent Hard Rock Café Malta. Once the local winning band is chosen, it will join other city winners in the global competition where fans will have to vote on the relevant Hard Rock Facebook pages to narrow down over 80 winners to just 25 bands.

A panel of celebrities and music industry professionals including Steve Van Zandt and Bonnie McKee will then select the grand prize winner and two runner-up bands.

The winner will perform at Hard Rock Live Rome, an outdoor music festival that will attract over 50,000 fans from across Italy. The selected runner-up bands will each receive new music equipment and gear.

Colourblind, winners of Malta’s 2012 Hard Rock Rising will make a special appearance on the final night, while Criminal Kiss and PlanZero will perform first and second nights respectively.

Hard Rock Rising Malta starts on Thursday and is supported by the Parliamentary Secretary for Culture.

www.facebook.com/hardrockcafemalta