STURGIS, S.D., April, 4—Ever dreamt of you and your band performing on the Buffalo Chip’s main stage in front of tens of thousands of rowdy bikers? Well, now’s your chance! The Sturgis Buffalo Chip has announced the inaugural “Big Sturgis Gig” contest where the winning band will receive $10,000 in prize money and a grand prize of performing a set on the same stage that artists Motley Crüe, Zac Brown Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Florida Georgia Line and many others will play on during this year’s Buffalo Chip Motorcycle and Music Festival in August during the Sturgis Rally.
The new interactive platform, located at www.BigSturgisGig.com, allows fans to explore top up-and-coming bands and vote for and share their favorites. Fans, along with a panel of celebrity musicians and music executives, will help choose one band to receive the prize money and the main stage set at the annual Motorcycle and Music Festival.
“Hundreds of talented bands contact the Buffalo Chip each year hoping to land a spot on one of the Chip’s stages,” says Sturgis Buffalo Chip President, Rod Woodruff. “The Big Sturgis Gig allows these artists to showcase themselves to the world, gain exposure and broaden their fan base. We’re thrilled to foster this community of emerging artists and give one of them the opportunity to perform in front of one of the most unique crowds of their career.”
The Big Sturgis Gig winner joins a lineup of more than 25 national touring acts that will fill out the Chip’s nine-day concert lineup during the 2014 festival. The venue often invites guests into its natural outdoor amphitheater to take in stage performances while on their motorcycles. As one of the festival’s hallmarks, revving motorcycle engines often replace more traditional fan applause.
Band submission and voting for the Big Sturgis Gig ends June 30, 2014, at 12:00 a.m MST. A celebrity judging panel will review the 10 top-scoring band submissions after all points are tallied. Judges for the contest include Doobie Brothers guitarist and vocalist Pat Simmons, Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, Swing House Studios President Phil Jaurigui and veteran booking agents from some of the nation’s most renowned agencies.
Bands interested in entering the Big Sturgis Gig may upload their mp3s, photos, video and bio information online. Fans will then be able to explore, vote for and share band submissions. For more information and full contest rules visit www.BigSturgisGig.com.
