Whether Rocco Del Schlacko Festival, Hurricane Festival, Airbeat One or Reload Festival – in 2023 it was “BÜHNE FREI!” from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania down to Saarland for acts who took part in the first music contest of Let The Players Play have won. And in 2024, up-and-coming acts can now apply again to perform in front of a live audience during the festival summer.
For newcomers, the music contest is a great opportunity to show what they have been working on in their own four walls or in the rehearsal room. In 2023, twelve exceptional talents were chosen from over 2,200 applicants and competed against each other at the BIG CITY GIGS in Frankfurt, Dortmund, Cologne and Hamburg. There was ultimately a winner for each gig, who was able to experience a unique festival experience in front of a live audience.
In 2023 they were able to Charley, Anoki, Max Bering and Friends Don’t Lie push through. For the latter in particular, it was a remarkable experience in their young career: “The win was something very special for us, as we had only made our first appearance two weeks before. Then playing with our childhood heroes like Pennywise at the Reload Festival was not only unique, but also enabled us to connect with many great people from the music and festival industry and to sustainably push our careers. Simply the best start you could imagine as a band.”
Let the Players Play: The application phase for 2024 has started
Anyone who would like to take part in the “Stage Clear!” Contest 2024 has until January 25th, 2024 to apply here. Regardless of whether it’s metal/hardcore, punk rock/alternative, pop/indie, pop/malle pop, hip hop, EDM/house, techno or acoustic singer-songwriter – there are no genre requirements and every style is welcome. This means that all participants have the same opportunity to qualify for a club appearance. If they can convince the audience there, nothing stands in the way of performances on the biggest festival stages in Germany.
Both the appearances at the BIG CITY GIGS and the festival shows help newcomers network, win more fans and increase their reach – a media push that can really get their dream music career rolling.
Anoki can also confirm this: “The newcomer competition from Let The Players Play helped me tremendously. In addition to the judges’ assessment, the performance at the Rocco del Schlacko also came at exactly the right time. In the meantime, I’m releasing my first album and I’m looking forward to everything that’s coming up in 2024!”
This is how the winners are determined
After the registration deadline, an expert jury will initially select 30 applicants. This selection is available on the website of Let The Players Play published. Online voting will then be used to determine 18 favorites who will compete against each other at the BIG CITY GIGS. The BIG CITY GIGS will take place in six major German cities in 2024, so six acts have the chance to win in the second edition of the music contest. There, three favorites will compete against each other live in front of an audience and an expert jury will decide who has what it takes to delight festival spectators, even in summer.
“The win was another incentive to keep going,” remembers Max Bering of the festival summer. “All the happy faces at the Airbeat One Festival are the best reward for all the hard work over the last few years.”
And singer Charley is also grateful for the unique opportunity she received thanks to Let The Players Play: “The win was the starting signal for my new music project. Before that, I hadn’t been on stage for a long time. The contest showed me how much I missed music and I was incredibly touched by the audience feedback.”
Let The Players Play’s “Stage Clear” Contest 2024 – apply now!