The Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame have announced the acts that will be participating in Sound Off!, its annual battle of underage bands.

More than 130 bands applied to be a part of this year's Sound Off!, which is the most submissions ever for the competition. Those entries were narrowed down 12 talented acts including: (Sui-Generis), Apache Chief, Candysound Sea Fever, A Cozy Kitchen, Hooves and Beak, Pan Pan and The Cat From Hue, Great Waves, SEACATS, Subtle Like A T-Rex, and Us on Roofs.

I haven't been able to attend a Sound Off! because I used to live on the other side of the mountains which made it tough to get to Seattle in the winter, so I am very much looking forward to checking out this year's event. It's a great way to catch some of the best youthful local talent and Sound Off! has a history of helping usher some pretty killer bands into the local music scene. Past Sound Off! participants include Schoolyard Heroes, The Lonely H, Dyme Def, The Lonely Forest, Mon Frere, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head and New Faces just to name a few. The winner of the competition not only gets the privilege of being a part of the Sound Off!'s alumni, they also get a coveted spot at Bumbershoot.

Along with the Bumbershoot slot, prizes for the first-place winner will include a live on-air performance on 107.7 The End’s The Young and the Restless and gear from KORG and Epiphone. Prizes for the second-place winner include a performance at Northwest Folklife 2010 and gear from KORG and Epiphone as well. Prizes for the third-place winner include a performance at the Gibson Seattle Showroom. All winners receive a consultation with The Recording Academy.

Here's the schedule of events for Sound Off! 2010 including links to the band's Web sites:

SEMIFINAL ROUND ONE
Saturday, February 13, 2010: 

* (Sui-Generis) / Kennewick, WA (experimental rock)
* Apache Chief / Tacoma, WA (garage punk)
* Candysound / Burlington, WA (indie)
* Sea Fever/ Seattle, WA (indie rock)

SEMIFINAL ROUND TWO
Saturday, February 20, 2010:

* A Cozy Kitchen / Bellingham, WA (freak folk)
* Hooves and Beak /Seattle, WA (singer songwriter)
* Pan Pan / Bellingham, WA (instrumental)
* The Cat from Hue /Camano Island, WA (indie folk)

SEMIFINAL ROUND THREE
Saturday, February 27, 2010:

* Great Waves / Sammamish, WA (alternative)
* SEACATS /Kelso, WA (pop rock)
* Subtle Like a T-Rex / Port Coquitlam, BC (prog rock)
* Us on Roofs /Seattle, WA (indie rock)

FINAL ROUND
Saturday, March 6, 2010:
The winning bands from the three semifinal rounds plus a “wild card” band.

All shows begin at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.) and the performance order each night is determined by random drawing immediately preceding the show. All shows are all ages. Tickets go on sale January 18 for EMP|SFM members and January 21 for the general public and can be purchased at the EMP|SFM box office either in person or by calling 206-770-2702. Tickets are $10 for the general public, $7 for students or EMP|SFM members.