Local group vies for chance to play London's Hyde Park

Melodic pop/rock group Tone and Niche has been jamming around Metro Detroit for quite a few years. The group’s songs are catchy, thoughtful and poetic. Infused with a dynamic violin and both male and female vocals, it’s the kind of safe, but lovely, music that could take the band places. Currently the group is fighting for a chance to perform at Hyde Park in London, England this summer, opening up for Bruce Springsteen as part of Hard Rock Cafe’s Hard Rock Rising battle of the bands.

Tone and Niche is founding members Anthony “Tone” Retka and Nicole “Niche” Varga, plus bassist and keyboardist James Sterling and drummer Roger Dutcher. The band won the local Hard Rock Rising contest, and now they’re battling 85 bands in cities around the world for the London grand prize.

The band’s talent has gotten them this far. They survived three rounds of live performances at the Hard Rock, judged by local music industry experts. Tone and Niche came out on top as the sole band to represent Detroit in the competition. Next, it’s a popularity contest as Facebook users vote for the band they like best at www.facebook.com/hardrockcafedetroit. The 10 bands that get the most votes will advance to the semi-final round, followed by the final three, to be determined by music industry experts.

Currently bands from big cities such as San Francisco and Mumbai have the most votes, but don’t count Tone and Niche (and Detroit) out of the running yet. Voting lasts until April 24. Visit toneandniche.com or www.facebook.com/hardrockcafedetroit to learn more about how to vote and listen to the group’s music.

Pop/rock group Tone and Niche is representing Detroit in an 86-city battle sponsored by the Hard Rock Cafe