_{By Zach Collier}

There are few battle of the bands-styled events in this world that actually grant winners some kind of clout or prestige. Most are overly long snoozefests for both the performers and the audience. Sets are too long, the music is poorly written and poorly performed, and the event is too focused on the competition’s bureaucratic process and not at all on audience enjoyment.

Velour Live Music Gallery’s Battle of the Bands is not this way.

An exercise in expert indie curation, it functions more like a week-long hipster music festival. 6 nights long, each evening is an exciting concert in and of itself. I’ve seen countless attendees over the years come to support a friend and walk away fans of bands they’d never even heard of before. Cash prizes are awarded, but additional prizes (like studio time and performance consultations) are given to winners and finalists that help them further their creativity.

Velour Live Music Gallery’s Battle of the Bands has happened semi-annually since 2006. Past winners include Neon Trees, Imagine Dragons, The Aces, The Backseat Lovers, and Cardinal Bloom.

Velour’s Winter 2023 Battle of the Bands will happen December 4 – December 9, 2023. Submissions are open from October 30 to 11:59 PM on Friday, November 10. Early submissions are prioritized. Local bands who played the Summer 2023 Battle of the Bands are ineligible for the Winter Battle of the Bands, so if that’s you, apply again for Summer 2024 or Winter 2024. Apply to perform here.

Make sure to follow Velour Live Music Gallery on Instagram, and check out last winter’s winner, Beeson, below!