Playing big Festivals...

Pawsome54

I'm in a band who have recently got going again after a year and a half long hiatus. We played Oxegen 2009, but we only got that slot because we won a battle of the bands. I've been searching all over the internet for band submission forms and contacts for big festivals but can't seem to find any.

I know Sonicbids is how to apply for American festivals like SXSW, but has anyone here got any experience with playing Irish or UK festivals like Oxegen, Download, T in the Park, Sonisphere etc. and how to get there?

People tend to give that blanket statement "just gig around for a while, and if you're good enough they'll find you", but that's a bit vague. Does anyone know exactly how to apply to these festivals? ie. contacts to call, e-mail adresses, adresses to send press kit etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

galwaybabe

Pawsome54 wrote: »

I'm in a band who have recently got going again after a year and a half long hiatus. We played Oxegen 2009, but we only got that slot because we won a battle of the bands. I've been searching all over the internet for band submission forms and contacts for big festivals but can't seem to find any.

I know Sonicbids is how to apply for American festivals like SXSW, but has anyone here got any experience with playing Irish or UK festivals like Oxegen, Download, T in the Park, Sonisphere etc. and how to get there?

People tend to give that blanket statement "just gig around for a while, and if you're good enough they'll find you", but that's a bit vague. Does anyone know exactly how to apply to these festivals? ie. contacts to call, e-mail adresses, adresses to send press kit etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

To be honest, I've tried the sonic bids, the emails, the calls etc.. and it can feel fruitless but its not. Keep trying. Sometimes the way it works is that you get on these guys radar the first year or two of trying and eventually you will get a result. Bear in mind they are inundated with bands applying so it is hard for the festival programmers to get through all the applications.
It is very true that if you gig around for a while and if you are good, they will find you. Believe in yourself and your band, keep at it. Best of luck.

Pawsome54

thanks for the advice! by the way, seeing as you mentioned sonicbids, have you had any luck with it yourself? to be honest i'm still a little wary about payin 30 quid to just get an email back 2 months later saying "thank you for your application, unfortunately you have been unsuccessful, please try again next year"

galwaybabe

Nope, never got anything through sonic bids. There are some festivals, like SXSW that only accept applications through them though so I guess I would use them again seeing as sometimes you have to.
I think at the end of the day sonic bids is 90% scam to get money out of you and 10% necessary to get some of the bigger American gigs. Avoid them if you can.

eire1

I've no idea how bands get festivals like Oxegen, EP, even Indiependence. We use sonicbids, the only things we've been selected for is Indie Week Toronto 2010 and this year too. Once the submissions we have left are done we'll prob shut it down, I am sick of generic responses. For $30 or whatever I expect some actual band feedback, not some copy and paste reponse.

Pawsome54

Thats class that yis got to play in Toronto though, how did that go actually? Was it kinda one of those things where you get there and there's nobody there to watch yis play except for about 3 people and a dog, or were there many people there? I'd say its some craic going over and playing a festival in the States regardless though, living the rock n roll dream right there

eire1

We played 3 shows there. First one had a crowd of about 30, second one was packed- it was the Irish showcase, last gig was packed too- it was the Balcony TV Toronto Launch. It was a great experience, got to be on Balcony TV while over there. It's more about talking to people over there, you know yourself. I'd recommend IW Toronto, since you're coming from abroad you're guaranteed several shows. Also I rented my drums over there: snare, cymbals and a kick pedal was only $41! Can't wait to go back in October

Pawsome54

Thats deadly! I'd say thats gonna be some craic in October. is that IW Toronto somethin you apply for through sonicbids too? is it a tour or?

eire1

It's a 4 day festival every October, it's run then because it's close to Halifax Pop Explosion and CMJ in New York. Yeah you just apply through Sonicbids, think it's about $20? They did a 2-1 special last year where you could apply for IW Toronto and Dublin 2011 in one. IW Ireland is in May.