Rockygrass Band Contest
Rockygrass Band Contest
Rockygrass Band Contest
Bands compete around a single microphone for fame and glory, as well as cash and a spot on next year’s Main Stage lineup!
Congratulations to our 2025 Band Contest Winner Slay & Stinson!
How To Enter the 2026 Band Contest
Tickets to enter the 2026 RockyGrass Band Contest are on sale now at shop.bluegrass.com.
There is no application process (just please read the “Rules & Guidelines” section below to make sure your band qualifies!). After that, your band just has to be in the top (12) bands to purchase a RockyGrass Band Contest ticket. Band Contest Tickets are $100 with an additional refundable $100 deposit that will be returned after your band competes in the contest. Failure to compete in the contest will forfeit your entire $200.
Only (1) ticket is needed per band.
Only (12) Band Contest tickets will be sold.
Since the contests are held inside the festival grounds, all contestants must have either a 3-day pass or single-day tickets for Saturday (the preliminary round) and Sunday (final round).
Rules & Guidelines
- Please note: Contestants are required to use just a single, omni directional stage microphone for the preliminary and final rounds of the band contest. No monitors are provided. Bass players may plug in if they wish.
- 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:
- A slow vocal song
- An instrumental song
- A fast vocal song (Tempos are relative)
- Songs played in the preliminary round are not allowed to be repeated in the finals.
- Bands entering the contest may have no common members.
- No drum sets or fixed/mounted percussion allowed. (Musicians should be able to stand and move with their instruments. Washboards, shakers, and tambourines are examples of accepted percussion.)
- Band winners in previous years are not eligible to enter the Band competitions.
- The contestant order will be randomly assigned at the contest site prior to the start of the competition.
- Scores are not cumulative from the prelims to the finals. The finals are a new contest; everyone starts on a fresh and equal footing.
- Prizes are awarded directly after the final round! Stay nearby if you want to reap the rewards you richly deserve.
- Contestants should not talk to the judges or the clerks concerning their scores during or after the contest. The decision of the judges is final. Completed judging forms are not available to the contestants or the public. If you have a formal protest, bring it to the head clerk first. They will forward it to the right person.
Scoring
- 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
Prizes
$750, strings and a 2027 RockyGrass Main Stage Performance
$500 & strings
$300 & strings
- Prizes awarded immediately following final rounds
2025 Band Contest Results
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 RockyGrass band contest: Slay & Stinson from Denver, CO! They’ll be performing a full main stage set at the 54th Annual RockyGrass in 2026.
A hearty congratulations to all 3 of the finalists who competed the RockyGrass Festival:
- Slay & Stinson (Denver, CO)
- Ms. Amy and the Jet Set (Denver, CO)
- The Sullivan Sisters (Evanston, IL)
Past Winners
Past winners of the RockyGrass band contest include Steep Canyon Rangers, Chatham County Line, Town Mountain, Blue Canyon Boys, Front Country, The Railsplitters, RapidGrass, The Wooks, Meadow Mountain, Never Come Down, The Wildmans, The Fretliners, Off the Rails
Questions?
Please reach out to us at contests@bluegrass.com.