Update: Friday, Jan. 20

Looks like Cadillac Jackson is this year’s winner.

Original post: Tuesday, Jan. 17

Since Wakarusa moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2009, at least a handful of Fayetteville bands have performed for the thousands of people who show up at Mulberry Mountain each summer.

The local guys have earned their spots alongside regional and national acts on the Wakarusa lineup in various ways, but one of the most common is by winning the Waka Winter Classic.

This year’s battle-of-the-bands-style competition is set for Thursday, Jan. 19 at George’s, and locals The 1 Oz. Jig, Groovement, Candy Lee & The Sweets, Jon Shorter and the Gateway Band, and Cadillac Jackson will compete for the coveted spot on a Wakarusa stage.

The format for the competition is simple. Whichever band gets the most votes from fans in attendance at the show Thursday night will win a chance to perform for a portion of the 20,000 or so people expected at Wakarusa this summer.

Both Groovement and The 1 Oz. Jig have played Wakarusa before, but the other bands in the competition would be making their first appearance at the festival should they gather the most votes.

Who do you think should win?