_{By Michael Luce}

Happy Halloween boys and ghouls! All of us here at Provo Music Magazine hope you have a great day of candy, costumes, and creepy curses. And while today is the perfect time to celebrate the sweets and spooky good fun, we’re already looking forward to an event in December sure to be far more intense than any ghost story you’ll hear tonight. No, we’re not already obsessing over Christmas; I’m talking about Velour’s Winter 2024 Battle of the Bands, the applications for which are open right now!

Velour’s Battle of the Bands series has been the place for bands to show off their chops and prove themselves within the pantheon of local music legends. We’ve told you time and time before about past winners like Imagine Dragons, Neon Trees, The Backseat Lovers, etc., and now it could be your turn to mark your name in the annals of history.

You don’t even need to be an incredibly well-established group to have a shot at walking away with a victory (or if nothing else, a bunch of new fans). I saw firsthand just how close several of the summer prelim nights were, and those lineups included performers ages 8 to 48 and songs that ranged from almost a decade old to written the night before. And you know what? It freakin’ rocked.

This year’s Velour Winter Battle of the Bands will take place Monday, December 9 through Saturday, December 14, and interested bands can apply now through November 8 at 11:59 PM. Bands that played in the summer battle are not eligible to compete in winter, and preference will be given to prompt submissions. Prospective competitors can see the full rules as well as the application form here.

Best of luck! While you’re getting your application assembled, check out “Idaho,” the latest single from Winter 2023 winners Local Kin.