KATHMANDU: The ‘Sprite Band Challenge — Freedom to Rock’ has had an enthusiastic start. According to a press statement releaseed by Bottlers Nepal Ltd, the organisers of the talent hunt, 50 bands from around the nation have participated in the pre-audition round being held at the Russian Cultural Centre.

The Challenge is a platform to encourage rock music and is also a stage to bring hidden talents to the fore and is targeted at Nepali youth aged 16 years and above.

Forty bands out of the 50 from the pre-audition round will be selected for the auditions round.

The winner of the Band Challenge will win a prize of 100,000 and a chance to cut their own album, while the first and second runners-up will receive Rs 50,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively.

The judges for the Band Challencge are rocker Robin Tamang, Manoj KC (1974 AD) and renowned drummer Dev Rana.