Battle Of The Bands

Date: July 18, 2025 12:00 AM

Preliminary Rounds • October 2, 9, 16 & 23, 2025
FINALE • October 30
Band Check-In • 5:30pm - 6:30pm* (*walk up registration is not available)
Performances • 7pm

Online Application

Are You Ready To Rock? The Battle Is On! 

Submit your band application to participate or come cheer on the bands! Groups are judged on visual presentation, sound, preparedness and overall performance.  

Applications will be available via the Prairie Meadows website for online submission and will be open for one month from 12am on Friday, August 1, 2025, to 11:59pm on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Bands selected will be contacted the week of Monday, September 1, 2025, to Friday, September 5, 2025, to be notified of their acceptance into the competition and their performance date.

You can also be a part of the competition excitement by voting for your favorite band.

  • At the end of Week 4’s preliminary round, short videos of each band that had performed and were not selected to advance will be posted to social media.
  • The public will have the opportunity to vote for a band to be invited back to the finals via a fan favorite vote. Results will be made public Monday, October 27, 2025, at 10am.
  • To vote for fan favorite, participants must have a Prairie Gold Rewards card, which can be obtained at the Prairie Gold Rewards Desk on Casino Level 2.

OPEN ROUNDS • THURSDAYS, October 2, 9, 16 & 23, 2025.

HOW THE COMPETITION WORKS

  • A total of 8 bands will be selected to participate in the event.
  • All band members must be 21 years of age or older.
  • Two bands per night will compete weekly. Weekly winners are selected by judges and will advance to the finale held on Thursday, October 30, 2025 for the opportunity to win the cash prizes.
  • Applications will be available via Prairie Meadows’ website for online submission and will be open for one month from 12am on Friday, August 1, 2025, to 11:59pm on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
  • Applications will require band members names, contact information, Prairie Gold Rewards numbers, performance availability, audio files, bio, and promotional photos.
  •  Two bands selected to participate in the preliminary rounds will take turns performing a selected genre of music each week, the genre will be randomly selected and each song is a different selected genre/era with a total of 5 per band the night of the performance, and is unknown to the performers and judges prior to the night of the preliminary round.
  • Various genres of music will be placed into a clear drawing drum, where a member of Cumulus Media staff will select the 5 slips at random after all bands have checked in for the night’s preliminary performances.
  • At the end of Week 4’s preliminary round on Thursday, October 23, 2025, short videos of each band that had performed thus far and had not been selected to advance to the finals on Thursday, October 30, 2025 will be posted to social media—where the public will have the opportunity to vote for a band to be invited back to the finals via a fan favorite vote. Results will be made public on Monday, October 27, 2025, at 10am.

A panel of three Judges will decide who moves on to the finals by a combined number of scores for:

  • Audience Interaction (25 Points)
  • Choice of Songs (25 Points)
  • Stage Presence (25 Points)
  • Technical Skill (25 Points)
  • 100 total points possible

During the finale round on October 30, 2025, the five bands invited back to participate will have the opportunity to perform three songs of their choice (approved by Prairie Meadows Marketing Staff prior to the performances) for a panel of three judges.

FINALE • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30

Don’t miss the exciting conclusion! Come see who earns the title of Battle Of The Bands champion and grand prize winner of $10,000. Performances begin at 7pm in the Finish Line Show Lounge.

PRIZE ALLOCATION

1st Place – $10,000 Cash

2nd Place – $2,500 Cash

3rd Place – $2,000 Cash

4th Place – $1,750 Cash

5th Place – $1,500 Cash

6th Place – $1,000 Cash

7th Place – $750 Cash

8th Place – $500 Cash

Must be a Prairie Gold Rewards member to compete. Not a member? Sign up at the Prairie Gold Rewards Desk on Casino Level 2 today. 

Must be 21 or older to participate. See Prairie Gold Rewards for complete promotion details.