The band McKenzies Mill, which features brothers Justin and Ryan Harris, formerly of West End, has spent the past few years in Nashville chasing a dream.

With two albums, McKenzies Mill is gaining traction and a following in Nashville. However, not too long ago the brothers were playing in O’Donnell’s Pub.

Now they are among 23 finalists in a Battle of the Bands competition in which the top three vote-getters will win an opportunity to open for a well-known performer.

“Members of the public can vote once a day via Facebook,” says Ryan Harris. “You do have to be 21 and up, and of course, have a Facebook account.”

For a link to the voting site, go to www.facebook.com and type in McKenzies Mill Fan.

Moore County has had a large part of sculpting the base of McKenzies Mill.

“We always base the idea of a good song on if the people back home will like it,” says Justin Harris.

McKenzies Mill does multiple original songs as well as covers for rock and country.

The brothers started the band in 2004 with close friend Tony Barnes. The Harris brothers continued on to Nashville but still give credit to Barnes for his part in the band’s inception.

Justin admits that sometimes working as brothers makes the line of communication too open.

“Do you have siblings?” he asks, laughing. “It’s a blessing and a curse.”

Last year the band won the “Back in the Saddle” house band competition at the Wild Horse Saloon in Nashville.

“It has helped us meet a lot of influential people,” says Justin.

Since winning the competition, the brothers have begun work on their third album and will be soon be going to the studio.

“We’re really excited about the new record. We’re going to do it really different,” says Justin.

The album will be recorded to tape instead of digitally. The brothers feel that this will capture the sound of their live show.

“It is the school of thought we come from and a true representation of how we sound,” says Justin.

McKenzies Mill plans on taking the record out of Nashville and pitching it elsewhere.

“We’re really confident of the opportunities,” says Justin.

Contact Kirsten Ballard at kirsten@thepilot.com.