Music Competitions
Once again, instrumentalists and bands from around the country took part in the nationally recognized RockyGrass band and instrument contests, vying for beautiful instruments, cash prizes and well-deserved recognition.
Registrations for the 2008 contests are now open. Reserve your space in the band or instrument contest at shop.bluegrass.com.
2008 RockyGrass Band Competition
Bands perform around a single microphone in the Wildflower Pavilion on Saturday and finals take place Sunday morning in the Wildflower Pavilion. Awards include an invitation to play a set at the 2009 Festival, cash prizes, and more...
Contest Registration
- Spaces in the 2008 Band Contest are now all sold-out. We only accepted 12 bands, so space went quickly.
- The registration fee is $75. This registration fee is fully refundable if you notify us before June 27, 2008.
2008 Band Competition Rules
- Please note: Contestants are required to use one stage mike for the preliminary and final rounds of the band contest.
- No more than 12 bands will be registered for the band contest.
- The band contest is held inside the festival grounds, so all band members must have tickets for the festival for the days of the contest (Saturday for the preliminary round, Sunday for the finals).
- Bands may consist of 3-6 members. The music should be "Bluegrass," "Old Time", "Western Swing" or "New Acoustic/Newgrass".
- Recommended time limit: 3 minutes per song. The judges mark you down if a selection significantly exceeds 3 minutes.
- No electric instruments or pickups allowed, with exception of electric bass and steel guitar (or lap steel). Only one mic will be provided for each band.
- Each band plays 3 songs in the preliminaries and 3 songs in the finals. The 3 band selections must be the following types: 1. A slow vocal song, 2. An instrumental song, 3. A fast vocal song. Tempos are relative.
- Repeats of songs played in the preliminary round is not allowed in the finals.
- No drum sets or standing percussion allowed.
- Bands entering the contest may have no common members.
Bands Score in These Categories
- 30% Material Selection (taste, difficulty, authenticity/originality...)
- 30% Instrumental Performance (includes ability of soloists and overall instrumental blend) 30% Vocal Performance (lead and harmony)
- 10% Stage Presence
Band Competition Prizes
- 1st Place: $750, strings and Festival main stage performance in the year 2009
- 2nd Place: $500 & strings
- 3rd Place: $300 & strings
- Prizes awarded immediately following final rounds
Band Competition Schedule
- Preliminaries: Saturday, July 26th, Wildflower Pavilion.
- Finals: Sunday, July 27th.
2007 RockyGrass Band Contest Winners
Congratulations to all the finalists in the 2007 RockyGrass band contest held in the Wildflower Pavilion.
- Spring Creek Bluegrass - Lyons, CO
- Lonesome Traveler Bluegrass Band - Loveland, CO
- Well Strung - Anchorage, AK
2008 Instrument Contests
The RockyGrass Music Competitions are traditional bluegrass competitions. Instrument competitions include flatpick guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro, and fiddle. Finalists receive beautiful instrument and cash prizes courtesy of Gibson Musical Instruments and Zeta Music. The preliminary round is held in the Wildflower Pavilion and the final rounds are held on the RockyGrass main stage for all to enjoy.
RockyGrass Instrument Contest Rules
- Because the contest takes place on the Festival grounds, you must have a ticket to the Festival to participate.
- Registration is now open. To register, order online at shop.bluegrass.com, call 800-624-2422, or send us a $15 check or money order with your name, address and phone number and mail to:
Planet Bluegrass
Attn: RockyGrass Competitions
PO Box 769
Lyons, CO 80540 - Each competition is limited to 12 registered contestants. If there are still spaces available contest day, you may register on site at the workshop/contest tent on a first come, first served basis.
- Time limit is 3 minutes per song. The judges will mark you down if selections significantly exceed the time limit.
- Contestants plays 2 songs in the preliminary round and 2 songs in the final round if finishing in the top three.
- Repeats of preliminary songs are not allowed in the finals.
- One backup musician allowed. No electric instruments or pickups allowed.
- The Picking contest is judged ”in the blind”; i.e. judges will not be in the audience.
- Contestants who have previously won a contest may not enter that contest again.
- The contestant order will be randomly assigned prior to each round.
- In the event of a tie or virtual tie, the judges as a group will be allowed discretion to come to a consensus regarding the winner(s). A virtual tie is defined as total scores within 5 points of each other. Judges may need to confer to ensure fairness and consistency in the rating process.
Pickers & Fiddlers Score in the Following Categories
- 50% Overall Ability (includes difficulty, expression, material selection, taste, execution)
- 25% Rhythm
- 25% Tone
2008 RockyGrass Instrument Contest Prizes
Prizes awarded immediately following final rounds on the Main Stage.
Banjo
1st Place: Deering John Hartford model
2nd Place $100
3rd: $50
Flatpick Guitar
1st Place: Collings D-1 Dreadnaught
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
Mandolin
1st Place: Gibson Sam Bush Model
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
Fiddle
1st Place: Players choice of any Zeta Music Violin
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
Dobro
1st Place: Hounddog
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
2007 RockyGrass Instrument Contest Schedule
Banjo
Prelims: 11:30 AM, Friday, July 25th, Wildflower Pavilion
Finals: 11:00 AM, Saturday, July 26th, Main Stage
Flatpick Guitar
Prelims: 1:00 PM, Friday, July 25th, Wildflower Pavilion
Finals: 10:45 AM, Saturday, July 26th, Main Stage
Mandolin
Prelims: 2:30 PM, Friday, July 25th, Wildflower Pavilion
Finals: 10:30 AM, Saturday, July 26th, Main Stage
Fiddle
Prelims: 4:00 PM, Friday, July 25th, Wildflower Pavilion
Finals: 10:15 AM, Saturday, July 26th, Main Stage
Dobro
Prelims: 5:30 PM, Friday, July 25th, Wildflower Pavilion
Finals: 10:00 AM, Saturday, July 26th, Main Stage
2007 RockyGrass Instrument Winners
Congratulations to all the finalists in the 2007 RockyGrass instrument contests held in the Wildflower Pavilion.
- Banjo
- Chris Elliot
- Allen Shadd
- Trevor Smith
- Guitar
- Allen Shadd
- Jake Workman
- Randy McSpadden
- Mandolin
- Jacob Jolliff
- Ian Hyde
- Kyle O'Brien
- Fiddle
- Ryan Drickey
- Joanna Hyde
- Collean Heine
- Dobro
- Ansel Foxley
- Nathan Davis
- Dustin Orbesen