GARAGE DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

 

ROCKONSIN, a not-for-profit program, is a statewide garageband competition for 7th – 12th grade musicians, of all musical genres, that form a group outside of school.

ALL band members must be attending a Wisconsin public, private, charter, virtual or home school during the current school year. This is the 20th year that Dennis Graham Associates has produced a statewide garageband-styled program, the only one of its kind in the nation.

The Madison Area Music Association (MAMA), a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization, has joined this effort to provide an opportunity to statewide youth musicians that want to share their passion for creating and performing music live on stage.  This State Finals only alternative music competition will feature 10 statewide garagebands performing at Summerfest, The World’s Largest Music Festival.

2024 UPDATES

Who can enter?

Any 7th – 12th grade Wisconsin student in a band of two or more students, with a vocalist. ALL band members must be attending a Wisconsin public, private, charter, virtual or home school for 2023/2024. Wisconsin school attendance verification: each band member of the 10 statewide finalist bands selected to perform at Summerfest must submit a school picture ID, that shows band member picture, name of Wisconsin school they attend and their class year (7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) for the current 2023/2024 school year; if a school ID is not available, send a report card that shows the name, school and grade level and redact (blackout) all classes/grades. Home school band members should contact ROCKONSIN at rockonsin@gmail.com for instructions. If verifying school documents for ALL band members (of a band that has been selected as one of the 10 Summerfest finalist groups) are not provided, that band will not be eligible to perform at the ROCKONSIN State Finals competition at Summerfest; and that band slot will be given to an alternate band.

  • NO registration fee or any associated costs! Apply online at www.ROCKONSIN.org for FREE starting March 1, 2024. Deadline for applications is April 30, 2024.

  • Each band must submit one video (bands do not need to professionally videotape their song – using a smartphone or a handheld video camera will do the trick) of the band performing either one cover or original song, submitting a link to that video and filling out the band application.

  • Ten statewide garagebands will be selected to each play a 20-minute set at Summerfest, the World’s Largest Music Festival. All bands must be available to play in Milwaukee on the date assigned to perform. Band can perform covers or original songs.

  • The winning band and runner-up, as judged by three music industry professionals, will each win a second Summerfest 45-minute performance showcase at The Big Gig 2024. The winning band and runner-up will also get a free professional recording session at Madison’s Blast House Studios (12 hours for the winning band and 8 hours for the runner-up) -  bands must use their recording time within one year and with the original band.

  • Each of the 10 finalist bands will receive two Shure microphones (one vocal & one instrument) with cords. The winning band will also receive a Shure vocal wireless microphone.

FAQS


What genres of bands are eligible to apply for the competition?

All musical genres are accepted – country, rock, jazz, hip-hop, reggae, metal, Americana, bluegrass, folk, etc. Bands can play covers or originals or a mix of the two. No pre-recorded beats or DJs are allowed.  You must perform your music live on stage. Band application is always FREE – there are no participation costs associated with this program. Bands, formed outside the school music program, must consist of at least two members that play instruments & one member must be a vocalist. A band can be no smaller than two members. All band members must be attending during the 2023/2024 school year a WISCONSIN public, private, charter, virtual, or home school.

How will the State Finalist bands be chosen from the band application pool?

A panel of three music industry judges, with a minimum of 20+ years experience, will review each band application video, score out and determine the 10 statewide Summerfest finalist bands. They will be judging the applicants by evaluating a band’s overall quality: how the band gels together (rhythm/vocals, vocal blend), creativity, synergy, musicianship & technique, and stage presence. This same band application scoring rubric will also be used by three different State Finals judges for the Summerfest performances that will determine the winner & runner-up bands.

Can we substitute a member of the band if they cannot make the Summerfest State Finals performance?

Yes. The substitute member must be in 7th – 12th grade and have been enrolled in a Wisconsin public, private, charter, virtual or home school in the Spring semester immediately preceding the State Finals competition at Summerfest. No more than 1 band member substitute per State Finals band. The substitute band member must provide all required Wisconsin school verification documents.