By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Apr 29, 2008 at 3:23 PM

For the past month we've been keeping you up to date on the battle of the bands known as Miller Time Pub's "Unplugged Music Series."

Last Thursday, JayK beat out Kirk Thode and now joins previous weeks' winners Apex (April 3), Joe Capacete and friends (April 10) and Bellevue Suite (April 17).

A set by jazz fusion combo Apex and another by acoustic rock group Bellevue Suite kick off the first night of the series' semifinals this Thursday, May 1. Round two features JayK versus Joe Capacete and friends on Thursday, May 8. Each band has already won $100 and are now competing for a $500 cash prize.

Free parking is available for all Miller Time Pub Unplugged guests. Parking only in the structure attached to the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave. (Guests must bring parking ticket to Miller Time Pub for validation.)

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”