This past weekend Birmingham had an explosion of good local music at Zydeco in Birmingham, Alabama. With an incredible line up and a packed out venue both nights brought to light the fact that Birmingham is not lacking in good local music! Friday night started off on the right foot with a rock blues set by Trial By Jury. They had the energy, technical ability and stamina of any famous rock group out there. WATCH OUT! Refuse the Fall then stepped up with a hard-rock set that had the audience on their toes. They had great vocals and composition. A Mark of Heritage then took over with a set that was inspiring and intriguing. They had some serious guitar rifts complimented by an awesome rhythm section. Auction 45 is back with incredible guitar solos, strong vocals and a stage presence that never ceases to amaze. Hidden Element stormed the stage with a set that had everyone begging for more. With great technical abilities and a very high level of energy these guys were the definition of entertaining! American Living kept the momentum going with a set that incorporated strong drum beats sweet bass licks and excellent vocalizations. Skazes added something different to the mix with their hard-rock ska set. With a saxophone, strong guitar licks and a Spanish flair these guys had the place rockin’ out! Sevenletterangel performed a very entertaining metal set complete with strong screaming vocals and a double kick pedal frenzy! Winters Haven closed out the evening with a set that was just what the doctor ordered! Alternative rock that was original and unique, tight and well composed. Saturday’s Emergenza event was yet another night filled with great diversity and lots of talent! Enliven Days started off the evening with a set that got the crowd rolling! They were an alternative rock 3 piece with a knack for singing and a vibe that was hard to match. 3 Shades of Gravy changed the mood a bit with an acoustic set that had everything! Awesome guitar work, great vocals, bass, percussion, drums, keys and a couple of covers that aimed to please! Crowe kept the momentum going with an acoustic-rock set that captured the hearts of music lovers through sweet melodies and a message. The addition of a fiddle player was definitely a good move on their part! Knova Jones always rocks out for Emergenza. With a great stage presence and strong compositions these guys pleased a packed out venue! Chalk, donned in suits and ties, performed a progressive metal set that had everyone abuzz with excitement. With strong stage presences and great compositions these guys rocked! Beyond Me played a hard-rock set that whipped them into the final rounds. They had excellent songwriting and a very high-energy performance. Deserata stepped up and plowed through their metal set with class and style.They had awesome rhythms and an excellent vocalist. AZ was astounding as they plunged into the late night of the show with a set that had the audience re-energized and ready for more. With a melodic metal sound the audience was thrilled to see such good musicianship. Bellygods closed out Saturday’s show with a power-rock set that was everything we needed to prove that good rock is alive and well and residing in Birmingham. These guys had an excellent use of effects and very professional sounding drum and bass lines. The semi-final rounds of the Emergenza International Music Festival at Zydeco in Birmingham, Alabama were a huge success. With the perfect venue, newly renovated with a state-of-the-art sound system and a supportive local fan base, we are sure to have an excellent final round in Birmingham in June. Keep posted at Emergenza Magazine for details about the finals and information on all of the incredible bands that perf