MADISON — The 2021 ROCKONSIN State Finals will be conducted from 12 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 3 and 4 at Summerfest on the Johnson Controls Stage. Six bands each day will perform a 15-minute set each.
The 2021 ROCKONSIN winning and runner-up bands will each perform a second prize winning 45-minute showcase gig Sept. 18 at The Big Gig on the BMO Harris Stage with the runner-up hitting the stage at 2 p.m. followed by the winning band at 2:45 p.m.
The 2020 ROCKONSIN at Home runner-up (Flying Fuzz) and winner (Negative/Positive) will play their pandemic delayed 45-minute Summerfest prize gigs on the US Cellular Stage on Sept. 18 at 12 p.m. and 12:50 p.m. respectively.
2021 ROCKONSIN brought to you by the Nicholas Family Foundation invites all statewide 7th-12th grade Badger State garage bands, of any musical genre, to apply by sending in a one song (cover or original) video of your band’s performance.
Bands can sign up free beginning May 15 at www.rockonsin.org and can run off a free application poster.
Three music industry professionals will review and score out all band application videos to determine the Top 12 State Finalist bands invited to Summerfest for the finals competition.
● Each of the Top 12 Finalist bands selected will receive two Shure microphones (one vocal and one instrument mic each with cords).
● The winning band will also receive from Shure a wireless vocal microphone system. The winning and runner-up bands will each receive a 45-minute showcase gig at Summerfest 2021. Each winning band member will also receive a ROCKONSIN Award.
● The top two bands will also each receive a professional recording session at Madison’s Blast House Studios (12 hours for the winner and 8 hours for the runner-up).
Key 2021 ROCKONSIN features:
● There is no registration fee; never any associated costs to participate.
● A band can be a combination of any Wisconsin students in 7th-12th grade; the band must be formed outside the school music program. All band members must be enrolled in a Wisconsin public, private, virtual, charter or home school during the 2020/2021 school year.
● Musicians applying do not have to be enrolled in a traditional school music program, and the band must be comprised of two or more musicians, one member of the band must be a vocalist.
Each band member of the 12 State Finalist bands selected must submit a school document verifying the Wisconsin school they are attending; more information can be found at www.rockonsin.org. You do not need to submit a school document when applying, this is ONLY required if your band is chosen as a state finalist.
Each band will be asked to submit one video (bands should not incur the expense of professionally videotaping their song — using a smart phone or a hand-held video camera will do the trick) of the band performing either one cover or original song and submitting a link to that video, in addition to filling out their band application at www.rockonsin.org. Bands should video close enough so that one can see the band members actually playing or singing; and include the songwriting credit and lyrics.
For more information on ROCKONSIN including band application information, up to date news, to run off a free band application poster and more, go to www.rockonsin.org. Follow us on Facebook, Tik-Tok and Instagram @rockonsin.
