Legendary Sturgis BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Get ready to rock! Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 5th 2027!
The 2026 competition application is now CLOSED.
Contact us to be added to our mailing list for 2027!
ABOUT
Prepare yourself for the face-melting, mind-bending sounds of garage band stew at Harley-Davidson Rally Point during our third annual Legendary Sturgis Battle of the Bands!
We are teaming up with the most prestigious regional names in business to bring a one-day Battle of the Bands festival the evening of Saturday, June 5th 2027 in downtown Sturgis. This multi-genre competition welcomes groups from large to small, old to young, and heavy to mellow for a competitive line-up like no other. All ages will compete for substantial cash and in-kind prizes – and don’t forget, the honor of being Battle of the Bands Champion in legendary Sturgis, SD!
PRIZES
Our team works tirelessly to create the BEST line-up of prizes for our top three competitors to launch you the next level! First, second, and third place bands will win from our major prize pool:
CASH PRIZES:
★ 1st Place Cash Prize: $3,000 ★
★ 2nd Place Cash Prize: $2,000 ★
★ 3rd Place Cash Prize: $1,000 ★
GIG PRIZES:
- Sturgis Buffalo Chip - Open for David Lee Roth at the 2026 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally!
- Glencoe Camp Resort - Win a gig during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally at Glencoe including accommodations AND 2-week access wristbands!
- Rush No More RV Resort, Cabins & Campgrounds - Win a gig at Rush No More during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with accommodations!
RADIO INTERVIEW & AIRPLAY:
Win a radio interview with local celebrity radio personality, Stitch - Mitchell Stafford - with The HomeSlice Group! Also includes air play on Buffalo Chip Radio and Real Rock 100.3 the Fox!
BAND PHOTO SHOOT:
Win a band photo shoot with photography icon, NoxBox Photography! Schedule for the same weekend as the Battle of the Bands or later in the year!
HOTEL STAY:
Win a hotel stay at the beautiful and historic The Hotel Sturgis! The hotel includes fully-modernized yet historic rooms, a specialty coffee shop, and exceptional location in the heart of downtown Sturgis.
RECORDING PACKAGE:
Win a 3-song demo recording package with the incredible Flat Iron Recording!
T-SHIRT MERCH PACKAGE:
Win a custom design t-shirt merch package with One Eyed Jack's Saloon, an infamous Motorcycle Rally hotspot with in-house merch expertise & production!
JUDGES & SCHEDULING
Competitors are allowed a 15-minute set with 15-minute change-over time between groups at the legendary Harley-Davidson Rally Point Stage in downtown Sturgis. Our Stage Manager and production crew will be contact registered competitors prior to the competition to finalize equipment needs and scheduling.
A panel of expert judges from varying backgrounds will score competitors in a variety of categories. Categories may include criteria such as originality, musicality/theory, energy/quality of stage presence, professionalism, and others. A more detailed rubric of judging criteria will be provided prior to the competition date. All judges will be required to sign a Conflict of Interest Disclosure to ensure fair judging practices.
BECOME A SPONSOR
Your support for this new experience is critical to success as we move into our second year. Sponsors will have a wide range of benefits, from in-person participation to the gamut of advertising perks. We are looking for a few extra-generous sponsors to help us keep it “grunge” by sponsoring our cash prizes for winning competitors – these sponsors will have in-person recognition and a variety of other highlights leading up to and during the event.
Please contact us as soon as possible join our 2027 sponsor line-up. We can’t thank you enough for all you do – let’s bring some visitors to the Black Hills and let the music flow this June at the Sturgis Battle of the Bands!
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
Click the buttons below to follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Stay tuned on our social for upcoming judge interviews, performance tips & tricks, sponsor shout-outs, competitor spotlights, prize announcements, and more!
JUDGE INTERVIEWS | PERFORMANCE TIPS & TRICKS | PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENTS | COMPETITOR FEATURES
EVENT OVERVIEW
- Event Date: Saturday, June 5th 2027
- Event Time: 1PM – 6PM (tentative; may change depending on # entries)
- Industry Night & Pre-Party: Friday, June 4th 2027 - Details TBA!
- Awards: 6PM at Rally Point
- Event Location: Harley-Davidson Rally Point (corner of Main Street & Harley-Davidson Way), Downtown Sturgis, SD
- Contact Info: Sturgis Area Chamber / (605) 347-2556 / Events@SturgisAreaChamber.com
- Event Description: The Legendary Sturgis Battle of the Bands is a 5th-year event held in conjunction with the 7th Annual Sturgis Art Festival located in downtown Sturgis, SD. This family-friendly event is organized by a committee within the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization. This event aims to bring visitors to Sturgis, enhance the resident experience, and support the fine arts in our community. Our first two years have been MASSIVE successes! Please contact us to learn more and submit your application. THANK YOU for supporting the arts in Sturgis!