FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dennis Graham
608-345-2330
dennisgrahamassociates@gmail.com
www.rockonsin.org
@rockonsin: Instagram, Tik-Tok & Facebook

ROCKONSIN State Finals Hit the Summerfest Stage

Johnson Controls World Sound Stage June 24 & June 25

CELEBRATING 18 YEARS OF YOUTH GARAGE BANDS ROCKIN’ WISCONSIN

MADISON, WIS. (MAY 15, 2022) – The 2022 ROCKONSIN State Finals will be conducted on June 24 & June 25 at Summerfest from Noon – 2:30pm each day on the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage.  

Ten statewide garage bands representing Wisconsin high schools and middle schools from Ashland to Muskego and Chippewa Falls to Cedarburg and in between have been selected, by three music industry judges, to perform 20 minute showcases at the ROCKONSIN State Finals.

Performance times and band listings are subject to change.

JOHNSON CONTROLS WORLD SOUND STAGE

(each band plays a 20 minute showcase set)

Friday June 24 (Noon - 2:30pm)

12:10 – 12:30pm What We Once Had (Rock) Lake Mills High School

12:40 – 1:00pm Dollar Dog (Rock) Cedarburg High School

1:10 – 1:30pm Just Jonas (Alternative) Muskego High School

1:40 – 2:00pm Indigo Basement (Alternative) Mequon Homestead High School

2:10 – 2:30pm Geology Club (Rock) Waukesha West High School

 

Saturday June 25 (Noon – 2:30pm) 

12:10 – 12:30pm Conrad & the Comrades (Brass Rock) Chippewa Falls High School

12:40 – 1:00pm The Diddymakers (Rock) Wausau West High School

1:10 – 1:30pm Ember Sky (Rock) Chippewa Falls High School & Middle School

1:40 – 2:00pm Sacrament (Metal) Muskego High School

2:10 – 2:30pm A Little Stitious (Rock) Ashland & Chequamegon High Schools

The 2022 winning & runner-up bands will be announced on Saturday June 25th at 6:00pm on Facebook, Instagram & Tik-Tok @rockonsin.

Each of the 10 bands will perform for 20 minute showcases on the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage and will be evaluated by a different set of three music industry judges, for the State Finals, on expression/creativity/technique, rhythm/vocals, primary beats/blend/time, synergy and a summary of each musician knowing their role and how the band jells as one musical unit. Each band, after their Summerfest performance, will receive a private verbal critique from one of the judges.

“Come join us at The Big Gig to see these 10 talented statewide garagebands rock the Summerfest stage showcasing their love of music and performance and cheer on these young musicians as they shine in the spotlight when they perform at The World’s Largest Music Festival.” said ROCKONSIN Founder & Producer Dennis Graham.

The 2022 ROCKONSIN winning and runner-up bands will each perform a second prize winning 40 minute showcase gig at The Big Gig on the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Stage on July 8th with the runner-up hitting the stage at 2:00pm followed by the winning band at 2:50pm.

The winner and runner-up each win a professional recording session at Madison’s Blast House Studios (Winner: 12 hours; Runner-up: 8 hours).  Each of the 10 State Finalist bands receive two (2) Shure microphones (one vocal and one instrument with cords).  The winning band will also receive a Shure wireless vocal microphone system.

ROCKONSIN, which is brought to you by the Nicholas Family Foundation, is made possible with the support of sponsor partners that have a passion for providing opportunities to recognize, encourage and showcase the talents of these young bands.  Statewide sponsor partners include MAMA (Madison Area Music Association), Nicholas Family Foundation, Tilt Media, KW2 (Knupp, Watson & Wallman), Shure, and Summerfest. This event is produced by Dennis Graham Associates which founded the program.

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.

State Finals to be held at Summerfest this June 

Youth Garagebands Rockin’ Wisconsin

APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN MARCH 1 – APRIL 30

MADISON, WIS. (FEBRUARY 28, 2022) –

Dennis Graham Associates, in association with the not for profit MAMA (Madison Area Music Association), is producing for the 18th year a youth garageband competition showcasing only Wisconsin 7th – 12th grade bands of all musical genres.  ROCKONSIN is the only statewide youth music competition program of its kind in the nation.  

The 2022 ROCKONSIN State Finals two-day competition (dates to be announced) will be conducted at Summerfest during its festival run held over three weeks (June 23 – 25; June 30 – July 7; July 7 - 9). 

2022 ROCKONSIN, brought to you by the Nicholas Family Foundation, invites all statewide 7th – 12th grade Badger State garagebands, of any musical genre, to apply by sending in a one song (cover or original) video of their band’s performance. 

Bands can sign up Free beginning March 1 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 10 State Finalist bands invited to Summerfest for the finals competition.

  • Each of the Top 10 State Finalist bands selected will receive two Shure microphones (one vocal & one instrument mic each with cords). 

  • The winning band will also receive a wireless vocal microphone system from Shure.

  • The winning and runner-up bands will each receive a 40 minute showcase gig at  Summerfest 2022. 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 2022 ROCKONSIN features:

  • There is NO registration fee; never any associated costs to participate.

  • State Finalist band showcase sets will be increased from 15 minutes to 20 minute sets.

  • A band can be a combination of Wisconsin students in 7th - 12th grade.  All band members must be enrolled in a Wisconsin public, private, virtual, charter or home school during the 2021/2022 school year.

  • The band must be comprised of two or more musicians, one member of the band must be a vocalist. 

  • Each band member of the 10 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 smartphone or a handheld 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.

ROCKONSIN, which is brought to you by the Nicholas Family Foundation, is made possible with the support of sponsor partners that have a passion for providing opportunities to recognize, encourage and showcase the talents of these young bands.  Statewide sponsor partners include MAMA (Madison Area Music Association), Nicholas Family Foundation, Tilt Media, KW2 (Knupp, Watson & Wallman), Shure, and Summerfest. This event is produced by Dennis Graham Associates which founded the program.

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.