Sunday, August 23, 2026
Think your band has what it takes to be the next standout act in Northern Michigan? Or want to experience an exciting night of live music while helping crown the winner? Join us for the inaugural Castle Farms Band Battle!
Five bands will be selected from submitted applications to compete live on stage at Castle Farms in front of a panel of industry judges and a live audience. Each band will perform a 30-minute set, showcasing their musicianship, stage presence, originality, and ability to engage the crowd.
Grand Prize
The winning band will receive:
- $500 Cash Prize
- An $800 paid feature performance at Castle Farms in March 2027
Judging
The competition will be decided by a combination of industry professionals and the audience.
Judges include:
- Two radio personalities from Midwestern Broadcasting
- Musician and industry professional Doug Norwine
- Audience Vote
Each judge accounts for 25% of the final score, with the audience vote making up the remaining 25%, meaning every attendee has a chance to help determine the winner.
For Bands
Interested in competing?
Only five bands will be selected to perform. Applicants must complete the online application and submit a performance video for consideration by July 31st.
The Castle Farms Band Battle is more than just a competition—it’s a showcase for Northern Michigan’s musical talent. We’ll be inviting local venues, festivals, breweries, wineries, restaurants, and other businesses that book live entertainment to attend, giving participating bands the chance to perform in front of potential future employers and expand their opportunities beyond the competition.
👉 Apply Here: APPLICATIONS
For Music Fans
Come experience an evening of incredible live music and help decide who takes home the title.
Ticket Options
General Admission – $15
- Indoor open seating within the General Admission section
VIP Admission – $25
- Reserved VIP seating area (open seating within the VIP section)
- One complimentary drink
All seating is provided.
A cash bar will be available throughout the evening, and grab-and-go food will be available for purchase in the Castle Pub.
Whether you’re cheering on your favorite local band or discovering your next favorite artist, the Castle Farms Band Battle promises an unforgettable night of live entertainment.
🎟 Purchase Tickets: TICKETS
OFFICIAL RULES
Band Eligibility
- Bands must register and be approved by Castle Farms before the event.
- There is no entry fee to participate.
- Each band will perform one live set of approximately 30 minutes.
- Bands are expected to conduct themselves professionally and comply with all Castle Farms policies throughout the event.
Competition Format
- The competition will consist of live performances followed by professional judging and audience voting.
- The final score for each band will consist of:
- Three Judge Scores (75% of final score)
- Audience Vote (25% of final score)
Audience Voting
- Voting is available only to ticketed guests attending the event.
- Each guest may submit one vote.
- Voting will be completed electronically through the official Castle Farms QR code.
- Guests will provide an email address to verify one vote per attendee.
- Duplicate, fraudulent, or otherwise invalid votes may be removed.
- Votes may not be purchased.
- Alcohol purchases do not provide additional votes or influence voting eligibility.
Prize Awards
The winning band will receive:
- $500 Cash
- $800 Paid Headlining Performance at Castle Farms in March 2027
- Official Castle Farms Band Battle Champion title
- Featured promotion on Castle Farms’ website and social media
- Second Place Winner
- $250 Cash
Winner Determination
- The band with the highest combined final score will be declared the Grand Prize Winner.
- The band with the second-highest combined score will receive Second Place.
- Castle Farms reserves the right to review voting, resolve ties, and make final determinations regarding competition results.
Event Integrity
- Castle Farms reserves the right to disqualify participants or invalidate votes if fraud, misconduct, or attempts to manipulate the competition are identified.
- The Battle of the Bands is a live entertainment competition recognizing musical performance. Audience voting is intended to encourage guest participation and is not connected to ticket purchases beyond event admission, alcohol purchases, donations, or any other form of consideration.
