ROCKONSIN State Finals Hit the Summerfest Stage

Aurora Pavilion June 26 & June 27

Celebrating 21st year of “Youth Garagebands Rockin’ Wisconsin”

MADISON, Wis. (May 29, 2025) –The 2025 ROCKONSIN State Finals will be conducted on June 26 & June 27 at Summerfest from 12:15pm – 2:45pm each day on the Aurora Pavilion Stage.

Ten statewide garage bands, representing musicians/bands from 52 Wisconsin high schools and middle schools that applied, have been selected by three music industry judges, with 30+ years of experience each, to perform 20 minute showcases at the ROCKONSIN State Finals.

Performance times and band listings are subject to change.

AURORA PAVILION STAGE

Thursday June 26

12:15pm – 12:35pm
- Krusher (Metal) - Campbellsport High School
12:45pm – 1:05pm
- The Lightways (Rock) - Sussex Hamilton, Germantown & Brookfield East High Schools
1:15pm – 1:35pm
- Greater Than Human (Metal) - Flambeau High School
1:45pm – 2:05pm
- Extra (Rock) - Brookfield East, Wauwatosa West, Mukwonago & Waterford Union High Schools
2:15pm – 2:35pm
- Blonde (Indie) - Wauwatosa East & West High Schools}

Friday June 27

12:15pm – 12:35pm

Mania (Indie) - DePere High School

12:45 – 1:05pm
- Exchange (Rock) - McFarland Indian Mound Middle School
1:15pm – 1:35pm
- Moon Pool (Rock) - Plymouth High School & Plymouth Riverview Middle School and Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School
1:45 – 2:05pm
- Take Back The Sun (Rock) - Edgerton & Fort Atkinson High Schools; Cambridge Koshkonong Trails School
2:15pm – 2:35pm
- No Limit (Rock) - Monona Grove & Columbus High Schools

The 2025 winning & runner-up bands will be announced on Friday June 27th at 8:00pm on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok @rockonsin and on the website www.rockonsin.org.

Each of the 10 bands will perform 20 minute showcases on the Aurora Pavilion Stage and will be evaluated by a different set of three music industry judges, for the State Finals, on expression/creativity/technique, rhythm/vocals, primary beats/blend/time, synergy and a summary of each musician knowing their role and how the band jells as one musical unit. Each band, after their Summerfest performance, will receive a private verbal critique from one of the judges.

“ROCKONSIN celebrates its 21st year of this only program of its kind in the nation by shining the spotlight on 10 outstanding 7th – 12th grade Wisconsin garagebands, of any musical genre, that will rock the Aurora Pavilion Stage at Summerfest – The Big Gig. Join us in checking out the cool tunes and musicianship of these very talented young Badger State bands whose next gig is performing in the spotlight at The World’s Largest Music Festival.” Said ROCKONSIN Founder & Producer Dennis Graham.

The 2025 ROCKONSIN winning and runner-up bands will each perform a second prize winning 45 minute showcase set at The Big Gig on the Aurora Pavilion Stage on July 3rd with the runner-up hitting the stage at 12:45pm followed by the winning band at 2:00pm.

The winner and runner-up each win a professional recording session at Madison’s Blast House Studios (Winner: 12 hours; Runner-up: 8 hours). Each of the 10 State Finalist bands receive two (2) Shure microphones (one vocal and one instrument with cords). The winning band will also receive a Shure wireless vocal microphone system and each winning band member will receive a ROCKONSIN award.

In addition, one ROCKONSIN State Finalist band will perform a one hour showcase set at 1:00pm August 8th at the Waukesha Rotary BluesFest at Naga-Waukee Park in Delafield.

ROCKONSIN, which is brought to you by the Nicholas Family Foundation, is also made possible with the generous support of these statewide sponsors that have a passion for providing opportunities to recognize and showcase the talents of these young bands: MAMA (Madison Area Music Association),Tilt Media, Shure, and Summerfest. This program is produced by Dennis Graham Associates that founded, in 2005, this statewide competition for 7th – 12th grade Wisconsin students which is still the only alternative statewide music competition of its kind in the nation.

For more information on ROCKONSIN including up to date news, to run off a State Finals poster and more, go to www.ROCKONSIN.org and follow on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @rockonsin.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dennis Graham

Phone: 608-345-2330

Email: dennisgrahamassociates@gmail.com Web: www.rockonsin.org

@rockonsin: Instagram, TikTok & Facebook

2025 ROCKONSIN

State Finals to be held June 26 & 27 @ Summerfest

FREE APPLICATION OPENS MARCH 1 – APRIL 30

MADISON, Wis. (February 21, 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, encourage and showcase the talents of these young bands. Statewide sponsor partners include MAMA (Madison Area Music Association), Nicholas Family Foundation, Tilt Media, Shure, and Summerfest. This event 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.

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