Santa Clarita Valley-based indie rock trio A Story Beneath is off to Phoenix for the final competition in the Ernie Ball-Rockstar “Uproar Festival” battle of the bands contest on Saturday.

Twenty-nine bands from across the nation earned finals spots through online voting. A Story Beneath, featuring Phil Goff (vocals, guitar), Todd Libby (bass, backing vocals) and Markus Flick (drums), is the only SCV band that scored enough fan votes to make the finals.

“We were personal-messaging people 12 hours a day all summer on Facebook,” Goff said. “We also launched a free ASB app for Android, used our Twitter account and ReverbNation page. We worked very hard reaching out to our dedicated fans, and wound up with 4,678 votes, fifth-highest in the nation. It feels like a dream. I pinch myself every day since I found out.”

In Phoenix, each band in the finals plays a 20-minute, four-song set, and judges will choose the winners.

“We’ll be playing ‘All in My Head,’ ‘Chameleon,’ ‘Vivid’ and ‘Zion,'” Goff said.

One band will win the Grand Prize:

• Record an EP with Producer/Mixer Jay Baumgardner;

• $10,000 worth of music gear;

• Professional photo shoot with photographer Lisa Johnson;

• Exclusive editorial feature in Revolver Magazine;

• Music video by video director Strati Hovartos;

• Feature on loudwire.com;

• One year supply of Ernie Ball Strings;

• One year supply of Rockstar Energy Drink.

The Phoenix finals also include live performances by well-known bands including P.O.D., Godsmack, Shinedown and Staind.

“We will be watching the pros and using what we learn to apply to our performance,” Goff said.

A Story Beneath has lined up local sponsors to help cover the trio’s travel expenses. “Lowe’s is sponsoring sticks, Keyboard Galleria is sponsoring sticks, picks, cables, drumheads, guitar and bass strings and a guitar setup with strings and cables, and Mugzey Music has provided a backup electric guitar for me,” Goff said. “We really appreciate their support.”

The bandmembers are finalizing their road trip and plan to leave Friday. “Markus’s truck can fit the three of us plus two techs and all our gear, and a photographer/videographer,” Goff said.

If A Story Beneath wins, he said, “It would make all our dreams come true, and make all the hard work and ups and downs worth it.”

Win or lose, ASB has a pair of local homecoming gigs in the wings. On Oct. 6, the trio will be among the nearly 20 bands playing the “Oktoberfest” outdoor blowout at The Vu in Newhall, and will co-headline an all-ages show at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex Activities Center on Oct. 13, sharing the bill with Hibernation Index and Bridge 22.

Find out more about A Story Beneath at the band’s official website; visit the official Uproar Festival site for more info about the competition.