Culled from countless submissions by the New Times promotions department, the bands in this battle now number nine. Four finalists — Afrobeta, Jacob Jeffries Band, Minimal, and Tristan & the Juice — will play this Saturday evening at 9. The remaining five — Jahfe, Andrew Bayuk, Rouse, King Bee, and Anodize — will play February 13. A final contest that culls the winner of each night into one pit of awesome will take place February 27. Judges include: booking agent for the famed Tobacco Road, Oski Gonzalez; WVUM’s Andrea Huber and Laura Sutnick; and Miami’s most infamous music promoter, Notorious Nastie.

The battle rages on at the Sport of Kings room at Gulfstream Park, at 901 S. Federal Hwy. in Hallandale Beach.
Sat., Feb. 7, 9 p.m.; Fri., Feb. 13, 9 p.m.; Fri., Feb. 27, 9 p.m., 2009