Rockonsin 2025 | Youth Garage Band Competition

2025 ROCKONSIN

State Finals to be held June 26 & 27 @ Summerfest 

FREE APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN MARCH 1 – APRIL 30

MADISON, Wis. (February 28, 2025) – Dennis Graham Associates, in association with the not for profit MAMA (Madison Area Music Association), is producing for the 21st 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 2025 ROCKONSIN State Finals two day competition will be conducted June 26 & June 27 (12:15pm – 2:45pm; 5 bands each day) on the Aurora Pavilion Stage at Summerfest during its festival run held over three weeks (June 19 - 21; June 26 - 28; July 3 - 5). Each of the 10 ROCKONSIN State Finalist bands will perform a 20 minute showcase set.

The 2025 winning and runner-up bands will win a second Summerfest gig performing a 45 minute set each on July 3rd  on the Aurora Pavilion Stage at The Big Gig (runner-up: 12:45p – 1:30pm; winner: 2:00p -2:45pm).

2025 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.

The 10 State Finals bands will be announced on May 15th. 

One State Finalist band will perform at the Waukesha Rotary BluesFest in August.

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 2025. 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 2025 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 2024/2025 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 smart phone or a hand held 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 and showcase the talents of these young bands.  Supporting partners include MAMA (Madison Area Music Association), Nicholas Family Foundation,Tilt Media, Shure, 104.3 The Fuse, RAZOR 94.7/104.7, WBAY TV 2 and Summerfest. This program 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.