This year's ERNIE BALL BATTLE OF THE BANDS winners were selected from over 11,500 entries from across the U.S. Each winner receives the opportunity to perform at this showcase which will be attended by top record labels, booking agents and managers; a $10,000 Guitar Center shopping spree; and one week of tour dates on the Ernie Ball Stage at the 2007 VANS WARPED TOUR.

Here's some background on each of this year's winners:
NATIVES OF THE NEW DAWN: Originally hailing from Detroit, MI, Natives Of The New Dawn fuse R&B, soul, rock, reggae and hip hop to create a sound of their own. Natives of the New Dawn's sound and style is like that of a "secret bastard love child that was conceived through a passionate love triangle once shared by Led Zeppelin, A Tribe Called Quest, and the entirety of the Motown roster." Hear their music at www.myspace.com/nativesofthenewdawn and www.battleofthebands.com/nativesofthenewdawn.

KARATE HIGH SCHOOL: "Arcade Rock" band Karate High School is one of the largest most sought after unsigned bands in the San Francisco Bay Area. Touring over 250 tour dates in the last year has enabled them to build a huge regional following and garner a lot of attention on the internet. Hear their music at www.myspace.com/karatehighschool and www.battleofthebands.com/karatehighschool.

LUDO: Recently signed to Island Records after winning the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands, Ludo is an electric rock outfit that has an indelible sense of melody. Hear their music at www.myspace.com/ludorock.