Photo provided by Chris Mowder

Update April 9th, 2012: After months of battling it out over at ListenUpMB.com, the winner of the 2012 Grand Strand's Best Cover Band has been crowned.

Congratulations to The RenoVation Band, winners of the 2012 cover band contest

via, ListenUpMB.com

In addition to the honor of being named the area's best cover band, RenoVation will also recieve a $500 cash prize and will be featured in upcoming editions of the Myrtle Beach Herald, Carolina Forest Chronicle and Horry Independent 

Read all about RenoVation's victory over at ListenUpMB.com here and check out photos from the contest finale here.

Update February 7, 2012: ListenUp Myrtle Beach has started the search for 2012's best cover band. Go vote!

The 2011 winner was the Mullets. Read more in the first report below.

First Report: The Mullets, a local rock band who has been playing together for more than 27 years, were recently voted the Grand Strand's Best Cover Band.

In a contest held throughout March and April, readers of ListenUp Myrtle Beach and Waccamaw Publishers newspapers voted the band as the winner of the local music site's first-ever March Music Madness contest. The competition included 32 local bands — nominated by readers — who play mostly cover material in head-to-head voting on a weekly basis.

The Mullets overcame stiff competition from some of the area's most well known acts including Painted Man, Tru Sol and fellow finalists Lee Travis & The Bounty Hunters — who perform nightly at The Bowery in downtown Myrtle Beach. 

• Check out a full feature on the band and how it's managed to stay successful so long at ListenUp Myrtle Beach. 
• Learn more about The Mullets and their music on the band's Facebook page.