Winnekenni Castle is many things: A hilltop sanctuary overlooking the lake, a place for gatherings of all kinds, a quirky part of Haverhill's history.
But Saturday, the Haverhill landmark was rocking.
Winnekenni Castle hosted Haverhill Rocks' annual Battle of the Bands competition.
The Haverhill Rocks committee is made up entirely of volunteers as they hope to raise the profile of the city's diverse musical community.
Project 57 won the competition, earning a $1,000 check donated by Trinity EMS and a music video recording session donated by ABE Multimedia of Haverhill.
Second place was given to Mongrel and third place went to Hysteria.
Last year's event attracted around 1,500 people as the sun shone brightly and Elliot Yamin of "American Idol" entertained the crowd.
This year's competition brought about 1,000 music lovers to the castle. The dip in attendance perhaps could be attributed to the threat of rain.
After three bands played, Furious George, Elyson and The Derelicts, the skies opened on the outdoor event and rain forced the event inside the castle. Even when the storm cleared, organizers kept the event indoors after having to move all of the expensive and heavy rock 'n' roll equipment.
Other performers were Tripmynd and guest star Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, a Chicago blues legend and Grammy Award winner who now lives in New Hampshire.
In order to perform in the show, bands had to be voted in through the event's Web site. Performances were shown on Haverhill Community Television and the top eight viewer favorites were invited to participate.
