Detroit’s own queer rockers Elspeth Tremblay & The Treatment have made it to the final rounds of the Opening Act Competition, a national competition that awards one band $10K, radio exposure and an opening slot at Audacy’s star-studded We Can Survive concert at Prudential Centre Arena in New York slated for Oct. 14. Previous winners of the competition have opened for Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and more.The Detroit rockers have beat out thousands of bands from around the world to make it to the final rounds and are now poised to win—given they receive enough support. Folks can vote daily, or post multiple votes with a donation.“We’re going to need a community behind us to keep up the votes,” said frontwoman Elspeth Tremblay. “So far, we’ve been fortunate to stay in first place in each of our group rounds, but we are amongst 15,000 competitors, and so we are doing everything we possibly can to generate support, from handing out our flyers with QR codes, to auctioning off merchandise.”

Elspeth and the Treatment raises funds for American Foundation for Suicide Prevention while aiming to win $10K, star-studded opening slot

The band doesn’t just want to win for the prizes; they want to underscore the need for suicide prevention within the queer community. Opening Act supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in their mission to give those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education, and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.“As a queer band, suicide prevention is very meaningful to us–as it’s a leading cause of death in our community,” Tremblay added. “In this current heated political climate, with tensions at our doorstep–from the flag ban in Hamtramck, to the national assault on Trans rights, it makes us even more determined to get as far in the competition as we can, and represent with pride.”Elspeth and the Treatment are: Elspeth Tremblay, vox/guitar; Ray Slagle – bass; Ryan Dougherty – guitar; Joe Condon – drums; Marcelle Hawn – saxophone; Alex Rios – trumpet.