Ellicott City band Clear for Takeoff booked to play Virgin Mobile FreeFest

At least one Maryland band made it to the Virgin FreeFest schedule.

Clear for Takeoff, a pop rock band out of Ellicott City, was booked to play this week after winning the festival's "Book the Band" contest.

The contest, now in its fifth year, gives ten young bands the chance to compete for five slots on one of the festival's ancillary stages, which this year is sponsored by social media whatchamacallit Whooznxt.

The four-member, unsigned band formed two summers ago after the break-ups of the members' other bands.

The band was competing against a couple of bands from the region, like New Sweden – from Wilmington, Delaware - and Fourth Quarter Comeback – from Fairfax, Virginia.

They'll play at the Whooznxt stage for a half hour starting at 4:15 p.m., squeezed between Big Sean's and Cut Copy's sets on the West stage.

The "Book the Band" contest began August 30, and the winners were chosen by online votes.

Ellicott City band Clear for Takeoff booked to play Virgin Mobile FreeFest

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