SDRRMA BATTLE OF THE BANDS
RULES & REGULATIONS
BackgroundThe South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association will host the fifth annual Battle of the Bands on Friday, October 10th, as part of the annual South Dakota Rock and Rollers Hall of Fame induction, scheduled for Saturday, October 11th, 2025. This event provides an opportunity for statewide musicians to showcase their passion for creating and performing music live on stage. The venue is The District,
4521 W Empire Pl, Sioux Falls, SD 57106.Who Can Enter• Eligibility: Open to South Dakota–based bands of any age performing rock and related genres (e.g., Rock, Hard Rock, Rockabilly, Heavy Metal, Rhythm and Blues, Indie Rock, Pop Rock). Out-of-state bands are not eligible.
• Youth Priority: Bands whose members are primarily 12th grade or younger (attending a South Dakota public, private, charter, virtual, or home school, or home-schooled) during the 2025/2026 school year will receive priority in selection.
• Older Bands: If there are not enough qualified youth bands to fill the finalist lineup, bands with members beyond high-school age (including recent graduates and college-age or older) may be selected to complete the roster.
• Performance Rules: Backing or sampling tracks must be kept to a minimum. Rhythm and drum/percussion backing tracks may be used. All instrument solos and vocals must be performed live; no backing vocal tracks. Karaoke-style performances are not allowed.
• Past Winners: The First-Place winning band from the most recent SDRRMA Battle of the Bands is not eligible to enter. All other past applicants and participants may enter.
Performance Stage & Equipment
SDRRMA will provide a professional stage, sound system, and lighting system. Bands may use their own guitars, keyboards, percussion equipment (excluding drum sets), and amplifiers. SDRRMA will provide a “house” drum kit to be used by all participating bands.
Band Registration/Application
• There is no cost to register a band.
• All interested bands must complete the application and submit a video of one (1) song, cover or original, no longer than 5 minutes.
• Videos must be uploaded to YouTube.com and the video link must be included in the application. Applications without a video will not be considered.
• There is no limit to the number of bands that wish to apply for the competition, and all submitted demos will be fairly judged to determine finalists.
• The deadline for registration is September 19, 2025.
Finalist Selection
Finalists chosen will be notified by email. Bands selected as finalists will be invited to appear at the “Battle of the Bands” competition. Showtime is 7pm-10pm and is open to the public. Each band must perform a minimum of 3 songs, originals or covers. Each performance set must not exceed 20 minutes. All finalist bands are responsible for their own travel arrangements and expenses.
Each playing member of finalist bands will receive a commemorative “Battle Of The Bands” plaque and two complimentary tickets for the Battle of the Bands competition. Each member of the first-place winning band will also receive two complimentary tickets for the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction event. Additional tickets or plaques must be purchased by the bands.
PRIZES
There will be a total of 3 winners:
• First Place: $1,000 in prize money and opens the Saturday Hall of Fame induction Show.*
• Second Place: $500 in prize money.
• Third Place: $250 in prize money.
*First Place winner will be invited to be the opening act at the annual SD Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction event on the Saturday, following the event.
Please submit all questions through the “
Contact” form on the South Dakota Rock and Roll Association website or to Willie Bertsch, event coordinator at 605-413-7749.