BASALT – Organizers of the National Jam Foundation announced winners in last weekend’s ninth annual Basalt Battle of the Bands.The event featured 36 acts consisting of students from around the valley and drew a crowd of 3,000.

Murdered by a Blank, from Yampah Mountain High School in Glenwood Springs, and Common House, from Aspen High School, tied for first place in the High School Garage Band category. The two bands will share the grand prizes of 13 hours of recording time at Great Divide Studios, and a fully produced rock video by Access Roaring Fork. Carlos Has Two Options, from Aspen High, took second place.In the High School Band competition, first place went to the Ram Jam Band from Roaring Fork High, with the BHS Guitar Class, from Basalt High School, in second.The award for Most Deserving Guitarist, along with a prize of a 40th anniversary-model Fender Stratocaster guitar, went to Yampah Mountain’s Dustin Tapin.

The Brady Smith Band, from Colorado Rocky Mountain School, earned the Judges’ Choice Award, with Jimi’s Stone, from Roaring Fork High School and Aspen High, getting honorable mention.Slightly White, a trio from the Aspen Community School, took first place in the Middle School Garage Band category, with the Resistance, from Basalt Middle School, in second. The Judges’ Choice Award went to Ethan Griggs, from the Carbondale Community School, and Aspen Community School student Sophie Dasaro earned honorable mention.Common Cents, from Aspen Country Day School, earned first in the Middle School Band category, with the ACS Chorus and Band, from the Aspen Community School, in second.

All participating music departments received cash grants from the National Jam Foundation. Also given to select music programs were two drum kits, three guitar amplifiers and four acoustic/electric guitars.Over nine years, the National Jam Foundation has disbursed more than $23,000 to music departments in schools from Aspen to Rifle. Tax-deductible contributions are still being accepted. To contribute, call Biff Phillips at 927-BIFF (2433) or 379-BIFF, or Julia Junt at 927-4669. For more information, go to http://www.nationaljamfoundation.org.