FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

2024 ROCKONSIN PRESS RELEASE

State Finals to be held June 28 & 29 @ Summerfest 

Celebrating 20 Years of Youth Garagebands Rockin’ Wisconsin

FREE APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN MARCH 1 – APRIL 30

MADISON, WIS. (February 28, 2024) –

Dennis Graham Associates, in association with the not for profit MAMA (Madison Area Music Association), is producing for the 20th 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 2024 ROCKONSIN State Finals two-day competition will be conducted June 28 & June 29 (12:15 pm – 2:45 pm; 5 bands each day) on the Aurora Pavilion Stage at Summerfest during its festival run held over three weeks (June 20 - 22; June 27 - 29; July 4 - 6). Each of the 10 ROCKONSIN State Finalist bands will perform a 20-minute showcase set.

The 2024 winning and runner-up bands will win a second Summerfest gig performing a 45-minute set each on July 6th on the Aurora Pavilion Stage at The Big Gig (runner-up: 12:45p – 1:30 pm; winner: 2:00p -2:45 pm).

2024 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 and apply 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) and will perform 20-minute showcase sets. 

  • One State Finalist band will perform at the Waukesha Rotary BluesFest on August 9th.

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

  • The winning and runner-up bands will each receive a second 45 minute showcase gig at  Summerfest 2024. 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 2024 ROCKONSIN features:

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

  • The 10 State Finalist bands will each perform a 20-minute showcase set.

  • 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 2023/2024 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, 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.

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