Delta Spirit performing at Gasparilla Music Fest. (Image via gasparillamusic.com)
Summer is always credited as the peak festival season, and that's mostly true – but fall and winter boast their fair share of sizable shindigs, too. Booking any of them requires planning, though. You have to apply months ahead of the actual event. To help you keep track, we've compiled a list of 10 awesome fall fests – and even a few slated for spring 2016 – that are currently looking for independent bands and artists to join the bill. Don't let the deadlines pass you by!
1. Toronto Independent Music Festival
Date: October 23, 2015
Location: Revival, Toronto, Ontario
Details: An offshoot of the Toronto Independent Music Awards, this fest is actually a showcase opportunity for bands and artists from around the world. A handful of acts – 12 at most – will perform 20-minute sets for industry professionals and media at Revival, a 650-capacity Toronto club. A grand jury consisting of broadcasters, producers, record label heads, and the like will choose a grand prize winner for Best Song, which includes a year of business advice from Errant Entertainment, national radio distribution, and a two-month radio promo campaign. There are also several other categories, like Best Rock, Best Pop, or Best Live, each with its own rewards.
How to play it: Apply here by September 1, 2015.
2. Festival Ajusco
Dates: November 14-15, 2015
Location: Ajusco, Mexico City
Details: Two Sonicbids artists will be picked to perform 30-minute sets at this Mexico City indie music and art fest, which is now in its fourth year. The shindig takes place outdoors at the Tochu Ajusco campsite near the Ajusco lava dome volcano, so in addition to the exposure to potential new fans, selected acts can also seize the chance to explore a pretty amazing region – it's not far from three other volcanoes and the gorgeous Valley of Mexico. Travel expenses aren't included, but we think the rewards massively outweigh the cost.
How to play it: Apply here by August 31, 2015.
3. Music and Gaming Fest
Dates: February 18-21, 2016
Location: National Harbor, MD
Details: Gaming might seem to be the focus at this longstanding four-day party, but there's definitely an emphasis on any related music. Two stages of nerdcore, chiptune, DJs who remix music, and more are a big feature, but also there's a room designated for collaborative jams, and impromptu playing in the hallways is permitted. It's worth noting that although it's a niche event in a not-so-giant city, that doesn't mean it's a small affair. MAG boasts a huge draw – around 12,000 attended last year, and 15,000 are expected this time.
How to play it: Apply here by September 30, 2015.
4. Adjust Your Eyes Music and Art Festival
Dates: October 9-11, 2015
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Details: This three-day event is organized by Grasshopper Juice Records, an independent Cincinnati imprint that releases works primarily by 8-bit, acid jazz, funk rock, and hip-hop artists. Its founders, Nick Mitchell and Cole Brokamp, are a charitable duo – they've donated more than $5,000 to a slew of organizations since kicking off in 2009. This year's fest, which will feature 200 bands on eight stages, will benefit Boys Hope Girls Hope. They're looking to select seven Sonicbids artists, and are open to a variety of genres.
How to play it: Apply here by August 29, 2015.
5. Mid West Music Fest
Dates: April 28-30, 2015
Location: Winona, MN
Details: This one's for Midwestern bands and artists only, and country, folk, roots, or Americana acts specifically. But whoever fits that description will absolutely thrive at this festival, which features 100 stellar performers at a slew of venues.
How to play it: The window to submit is open now through October, but no exact end date is provided. Check out the details here.
6. The Potluck Festival
Date: December 19, 2015
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Details: This edition of the fest will be held in a relatively small venue with a capacity for a little more than 300. But its impact is huge: like the nine before it, the 2015 edition will raise funds for Ubangi Technical Assistance, a nonprofit that builds much-needed schools in Congo. Of the 15 performances, each between 30 and 45 minutes and of a wide range of styles, two slots will be filled from Sonicbids submissions. Local bands and artists with a draw in Saskatoon are preferred, but touring acts are also considered.
How to play it: Apply here by September 1, 2015.
7. The Ultimate Louisiana Party
Date: October 31-November 1, 2015
Location: Houston, TX
Details: Blues, rock, Americana, R&B, and jazz are among the styles typically featured at this fest, which is held in several different cities throughout each year. This is a family friendly event, which is important to keep in mind even if you fit the accepted list of genres. In addition to a performance before an expected crowd of 800, the 10 Sonicbids artists they choose will also have the opportunity to join a 90-minute jam hosted by the Les Paul Society and the Houston Songwriters Association.
How to play it: Apply here by September 29, 2015.
8. Anthem International Music Festival
Date: September 25, 2015
Location: Orlando, FL
Details: This one isn't a traditional fest. It's actually a competition held in a bunch of different cities – and the grand prize winner gets a completely paid chance to tour throughout Europe and Africa. At each event – including this Orlando edition – three judges score individual songs anonymously, and the winners move on to an online voting round in which regional winners are chosen. In the end, only one act out of all the IMF events will be awarded the big trip, but everyone, of course, gets the exposure of performing before the panel of industry professionals. Additionally, participants are supporting a charitable endeavor – the IMF donates to multiple international children's organizations and NGOs. The contest is open to all types of bands and artists hailing from all areas, so long as they play original music only.
How to play it: Apply here by September 1, 2015.
9. Gasparilla Music Fest
Date: March 12-13, 2016
Location: Tampa, FL
Details: More than 50 acts will perform on five stages before an expected crowd of 10,000 per day at the fifth annual edition of this sizable fest. Headliners in the past have included Modest Mouse, Mutemath, the Flaming Lips, Ra Ra Riot, the Gaslight Anthem, and Gogol Bordello. They're only looking to book one Sonicbids band, so competition is tough – but the benefits, if selected, would certainly be worth the effort.
How to play it: Apply here by January 5, 2016.
10. 30A Songwriters Festival
Date: January 15-17, 2016
Location: Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Details: Ten slots are open for Sonicbids artists at the seventh annual edition of this fest, which draws about 3,000 people each year. It's stretched out over 24 venues located in a 20-mile stretch of the Gulf Coast, some of them beachside resorts. Performers have included Lucinda Williams, Indigo Girls, John Oates, the Bangles, Suzanne Vega, Joan Osborne, Ani DiFranco, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. With that in mind, acoustic country, blues, Americana, and folk seem to be the preferred genres for this fest, although plugged-in rock and pop performances are also considered.
How to play it: Apply here by October 31, 2015.
Not sure if you're ready to play a festival? Check out these tips:
- 5 Tips for Playing Your First Festival
- How to Break Your Band Into the Music Festival Circuit: Advice From Fest Veterans Wild Adriatic
- 3 Things Every Band Should Know for Festival Season
- How to Turn Festival Attendees Into Fans
Jhoni Jackson is an Atlanta-bred music journalist currently based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she juggles owning a venue called Club 77, freelance writing and, of course, going to the beach as often as possible.
