By Matt Kiernan

Local Connecticut bands will be given a chance to perform on the Vans Warped Tour when it passes through in July, with a first round competition this Saturday at the Space.

The competition, which is titled the 2010 East Coast Indie Stage Battle of the Bands, is accepting submissions from bands that are looking to perform Warped when it comes to Hartford’s Comcast Theater on July 11.

Those who win the competition will be given the opportunity to perform alongside acts such as Andrew W.K., Motion City Soundtrack, Sum 41 and the Dillinger Escape Plan.

Warped Tour for the most part features pop punk and alternative rock influenced bands. The tour was established in 1995 and can have shows with over-100-band lineups. This year’s schedule is no exception.

The inclusion of more indie bands may be due to the fact that Warped has been adding more of a variety of bands from different genres in recent years. This has included the genres of hip-hop, indie rock and reggae.

Bands interested in competing are being asked to e-mail [email protected] to enter.

Tickets for the competition are going for $12, and the doors open at 4 p.m. The Warped Tour Hartford show tickets are currently on sale for $28 on ticketmaster.com.