By Stephanie Froese

Saskatoon band vies for Rolling Stone cover

Feb 17, 2011 | 5:27 AM

A Prince Albert musician is in the running to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

Leot Hansen grew up in Prince Albert and now plays guitar the Saskatoon band The Sheepdogs.

The self-proclaimed “good ol’ fashioned rock and roll” group, have made the top 16 in a major competition for Rolling Stone.

“Of over a thousand bands that applied, they took 16 and we were one of the 16 and the only one in Canada,” Hanson said, comparing it to an American Idol kind of competition.

“There’s kind of like elimination rounds from 16 to eight and then from eight to four and then from two to one.”

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The band that wins first place will be signed with Atlantic Records, be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and gain plenty of publicity.

Even without winning, The Sheepdogs will already be in the next issue of Rolling Stone with the other 15 bands in the competition.

Rolling Stone editors went through over a thousand submissions when choosing the top 16.

Hansen said those editors logged hours and hours listening to all the bands.

“Checking their images, their styles, their influences and I think we caught their eye I guess, being from Canada and just being a throwback rock and roll band.”

Along with Hanson on guitar, the band consists of Ewan Currie on guitar and vocals, Ryan Gullen on bass and vocals and Sam Corbett on drums and vocals.

He said he hopes being the only Canadian band will mean people here will back them and vote for them.

“It feels like we’ve got some people on our side … we’ve heard the other bands and there is some competition but I think we’re going to make it up there at least to the top eight, if not the top four. ”

The wining band will be announced on the Aug. 1 episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

To see the top 16 and vote go to the Rolling Stone website.

sfroese@panow.com