A friend asked me recently what my secret is to discovering some of the great new music out there. My answer was easy and immediate: Music festivals. The key to discovering new music is to search out the bands that you have never heard or heard of, those tiny names at the bottom of the poster.
I especially appreciate festivals that support local musicians such as FloydFest. Its annual On-the-Rise Band competition allows fans to pick two favorite up-and-coming bands, which earn the right to play at the next FloydFest. MerleFest has several competitions including the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest and the MerleFest Band Competition. Bonaroo holds a "play off" similar to Floydfest as do a number of other festivals across the country.
And while I haven't had a chance to make it to LOCKN’ yet, I am really excited to share the Rockn' to Lockn' 2017 contest, the festival's annual battle of the bands that allows fans to vote for their three favorite local Virginia bands to perform at LOCKN’ Festival 2017. One of the reasons I wanted to share this particular contest is that votes are accepted from anywhere in the country (and beyond) through March 1.
"As a Virginia-based festival, it is important to us to support our local music scene," Lockn' organizers say. "In 2017, our fourth year of Rockn’ to LOCKN’, our mission is to find the top local talent here in our home state of Virginia, and then let the fans choose who they want to see play at LOCKN’ this year."
Bands register between Jan. 12 and Feb. 12 and the voting, which began Feb. 15, continues through March 1. Head here to listen to the top 20 bands and cast your vote for who you want to see perform at LOCKN’. As a bonus, each person who votes for Rockn’ to LOCKN’ will be entered to win two, four-day general admission passes to LOCKN’. Fans can submit up to one vote per day.
But it doesn't end there. On March 7, festival organizers will announce 12 bands who will proceed to the next round and perform in three live showdowns in Virginia (dates and details TBA). Your in-person votes at these events will decide six bands. Finally, at Community Day at Infinity Downs Farm on June 17 the top six finalists will provide grand finale performances where fans will select the final picks for the top three bands to perform at LOCKN’, Aug. 24-27, 2017, on the big stage. Each winning band will also take home a $500 performance fee. As of this posting Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos, Kendall Street Company, Sun Dried Opossum and Will Overman Band were leading the voting.
This year's Top 20 bands are:
http://www.bigmamashakes.com
Devil's Workshop Big Band
The 2017 Lockn’ Festival will take place at Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia. The initial lineup for the fifth annual Lockn’ Festival include The Avett Brothers, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Brandi Carlile, Keller Williams, Phil Lesh, The Terrapin Family Band, Warren Haynes, Gov’t Mule, The String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, moe, JJ Grey & Mofro, Eric Krasno Band, John Butler Trio, The Revivalists, Los Colognes, Margo Price, Greensky Bluegrass, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, TAUK, The Suffers, Marcus King Band and Umphrey’s McGee.
From JamBase, Lockn’ is co-produced by Peter Shapiro and Dave Frey. The first installment of the festival was held in 2013 and it has returned each year since. In 2016 Lockn’ moved from its traditional early September weekend to the final weekend of August.Tickets and passes for Lockn’ 17 are available now via the festival’s website.
Would love to hear who you are voting for!
Want to read more about up-and-coming bands and live music festivals? Visit https://musicreporterblog.wordpress.com/
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
