Hello Bands and Musicians!

As is always the case this time of year, we're getting TONS of messages (and emails, phone calls, etc.) asking how to apply to play at GrassRoots. Here's the scoop:

1. The GrassRoots booking process is primarily curatorial. Between the festival staff and our "band committee" (a nebulous and hard to pin down group of musicians and friends with great taste), we see TONS of new live music every year. Between conferences, other festivals around the country, live music in Ithaca and other places we travel to, and so on, we've got our ears pretty solidly to the ground - we know the scene, we know who's playing, who's touring, and so on. That said, we generally don't have a hard time coming up with several hundred bands annually who we'd like to book. We just don't have the room for everyone.

2. We do accept band submission packages, and we listen to every single one of them. However, as we get upwards of 500-700 packages and EPKs each year, we don't have time to individually respond to submissions. If we're ready to book you, we'll be in touch. We have made some great finds in the press kit pile (including 2007 GrassRookies of the Year, Scythian!), so we do take it seriously, but again, we have minimal spots and lots and lots of applicants.

3. Keep in mind that we primarily book world and roots music - we aim for diversity while obsessively maintaining quality. Even if you're the best Death Metal band in the world, it's not highly likely that you're going to be quite the right fit. Take this with a grain of salt, though - we are certainly known for our quirky programming decisions.

4. We are not looking for cover or tribute bands. Hey, we like the Dead, too, but our programming tastes lean toward music that is either original or traditional.

5. We are generally more inclined towards bands who have an established fanbase, a pressed CD (self-released is totally fine), some tour history, etc.... it's the boring side of the arts - we do still have to sell tickets, and it makes a great band seem even more attractive if we know that they'll bring some fans along with them. Again, though, take this with a grain of salt - we've certainly hired some phenomenal brand-new bands and artists who hand-made an off-the-cuff demo tape and who've never played live. But that'd definitely the exception - not the rule.

IF THAT DOESN'T SCARE YOU OFF....

Please feel free to send us a press kit. Keep it simple: CD (promo sleeves or burns are fine), picture, bio, a quick list of some other festivals or venues that you've played, and any other (brief!) information that you think we should have.

Send it to:

GrassRoots Band Committee
PO Box 941
Trumansburg, NY 14886

Or send an EPK to: grassroots@grassrootsfest.org

March 1 is the official deadline, though we'll check out trickle-ins up until the 15th.

The full band list will be released on May 1. If you haven't heard from us by April 15th or so (probably way earlier, but sometimes, with cancellations and stuff...), you're 99.9999% not in. Please don't take it as a slight - it's more than likely just a matter of space. We hope we'll see you at the festival anyway!

Much love,

Megan (<---marketing/promo girl, NOT in charge of band selection! Also, impervious to sweet talk!)... and the GrassRoots Crew

NEW! 2008 GrassRoots Festival HOLIDAY SPECIAL!

Tickets for the 2008 festival are on sale for a special holiday discount.

Onsite camping tickets and youth tickets will go on sale February 14 as usual.

... but we're putting it on Blogspot, because it's more accessible than MySpace.

Check it out.