Beyond Ash another step closer to the big time

Beyond Ash are one step closer to that coveted $1 million recording contract from Bodog Music. The Pictou County rockers won a battle of the bands contest in Montreal on the weekend, defeating 12 other groups. Though they were far from home, there were plenty of Beyond Ash fans in the audience as a bus full of 40 friends and family members had followed the band to Montreal especially for the show. With the win, Beyond Ash have advanced to the next round of the Bodog battle - they will play another battle of the bands in Toronto on March 8 against the top bands from across Canada. The top two bands from that show will go to Los Angeles to compete against the top two bands from the United States and overseas, and the entire process will be filmed for a reality television show. Ultimately, one band will be left standing to sign the contract. "I think we have a good chance of doing well in Toronto," lead singer Ashley George says. "I'm not too worried about the competition anymore, to be honest. It's just good to be in the finals, (and) to know we can play amongst the best unsigned bands in Canada." Once again, the band will be fundraising so that they can bring a bus full of fans and supporters to Toronto along with them. But even if they are eliminated, George says he and his bandmates will have no regrets. "We've met so many bands from across Canada who have invited us to play shows with them," George says, explaining the Bodog competition has been excellent for networking. Moreover, even if they don't win the Bodog battle, that doesn't mean there won't be other opportunities to sign a recording contract, he adds. He points out that a band from Montreal had to drop out of the competition when, while playing a battle of the bands, they caught the attention of a representative from a record label and were signed on the spot. "You never know who might be in the audience," he says. Beyond Ash's self-titled album is available now. More information on the band can be found on their website, www.beyondashrocks.com, as well as their Myspace page, www.myspace.com/beyondashrocks.