Band Competition

WELCOME TO PICKERS GOT TALENT  

We are proud to host another year of our highly anticipated Band Competition event! We invite all interested bands to read the details and submit their video and information below. Public Voting will begin May 1st to determine the 4 finalists competing on stage, Saturday, July 12th. Good luck!

FIRST ROUND:

Virtual voting contest to determine which 4 bands will be competing LIVE at Pickin’ On Picknic 2025. Submitted videos will be uploaded to the Official Pickin’ On Picknic Youtube Channel where your fans may like to vote. 

How to Submit: Email your best video to info@pickinfestival.com with your band’s name and brief bio.

Submission Deadline: April 22nd 

Voting Period: May 1st – May 14th 

4 Finalists Announced: May 15th

FINAL ROUND:
LIVE On-stage performance @ Pickin’ On Picknic 2025
Time of Event: Saturday, July 12th @ 12PM
Winners Announced: Mainstage – Saturday, July 12th directly before headliner begins. 

2025 Pickin’ On Picknic Band Competition Prizes

• 1st Place Prize: A slot on the Pickin’ On Picknic 2026 Mainstage & a recording session at Blue Lotus Studio, St. Louis’ favorite recording studio voted by Riverfront Times.
• 2nd Place:  GA Tickets to Pickin’ On Picknic 2026 (1 per band member)
• 3rd Place: Pickin’ On Picknic Swag Bag

2025 Contest Registration Details:

Please read all the rules before submitting your entry! The bands submitted will be voted on and narrowed down to 4 competing bands, announced May 15th. Those 4 bands will perform around a single microphone & base amp on the River Stage on Saturday, July 12th starting at 11am. Winning band will perform on the Main Stage on Saturday at Pickin’ on Picknic 2026.

If You are Selected to Compete Onstage:

• All selected band members will be provided with full festival passes to Pickin’ on Picknic 2025 including plus ones.
• Hospitality provided for band members only Saturday, July 12th.
• Bands must be available and ready to perform at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 12th.
• Any band that was previously booked at this festival is ineligible to enter.
• Bands competing may not have musicians who are performing at this festival as members of competing band.

2025 Band Competition Schedule

• 11:00 am on Saturday, July 12th at the River Stage: Band Meeting

• 12 p.m. on Saturday July 12th: Band Competition begins

  • Bands are allotted no more than 15 minutes for competition performance. Going over will count against your score.

• Finalists will be selected by 6:00 p.m. Saturday, July 12th and announced on the Pickin’ On Picknic Main Stage before our Headliner.

Criteria our Judges will be Judging On

• Planning/Preparedness – 20%

• Originality – 30%

• Interaction with audience – 10%

• Quality of performance – 20%

• Presentation – 20%