The 2018 Minnesota Americana-Roots Music Contests take place on August 31 with a vocal duo contest and on September 1st with a band contest, 11:30 to 2:15 pm each day. Both contests are limited to acoustic groups playing Americana “Roots” music, including bluegrass, old-time, newgrass, and related music. Professionals from the music industry will judge the groups on material selection and arrangement, instrumental and vocal performance, stage presence, and entertainment value.
Cash prizes to the top three winners include $1000, $500, and $250 for band champions and $500, $250, and $100 for duos. And what would the Minnesota State Fair be without fancy state fair ribbons!
First place winners of each contest will also get feature articles in Minnesota Bluegrass magazine and five hours of studio time at the Wild Sound Recording Studio. In addition, the first place Band Champion will receive a paid set at the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association’s 2019 August Festival and a video session at Baby Blue Arts.
All participating duos and bands will receive a one-year band membership in Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association (a $75 value), and all participants who register by August 16 will receive an official contest t-shirt. All participating duos and bands will also get great exposure. No, we mean it! The State Fair estimates that 3,000 people will attend at least part of the Contests. Many members of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association attend, and a number of the bands/duos which did not take a top spot have later received paid gigs at Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association festivals.
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