Our goal with the Dayton Battle of the Bands is to provide a platform for outstanding musical talent in the Dayton area, while offering a prize package that helps artists take the next step.​ The series gives local musicians a unique opportunity to perform at a premier Dayton music venue, reach new audiences, connect with fellow artists, and network with music industry professionals.

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Who Should Apply?​

All genres of original bands and musical acts, including solo artists and duos, are encouraged to apply! Dayton Battle of the Bands features original local music. You can include one cover song in your set, but the rest must be original material. Cover bands cannot compete. All genres of music will be considered!​

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To be Eligible, Acts Must:

• Have at least 15–20 minutes of original music to perform (one cover allowed).

• Be available for the applicable competition and performance dates.

• Live within approximately 35 miles of downtown Dayton, Ohio

• For bands, at least half of the band members must live within the 35-mile radius.​

Note: The 35-mile radius generally includes communities such as Middletown, Piqua, Springfield and the surrounding Dayton region.

 

Before You Apply

Before registering your act or band, please:

1. Read the competition rules and confirm your eligibility.

2. Review all performance dates carefully. Confirm that all participating band members are available for the required dates before submitting your application

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Cost & Compensation

Applying to the Dayton Battle of the Bands is FREE.

Please note that payment for competition performances is not guaranteed.

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Application Notes

When applying, please note that we ask what genre you perform for a general idea of what kind of music you perform. We understand that many bands/acts blend genres and can be hard to define. We're looking for the category you identify with most, so do your best to pick one, and feel free to explain more in the Notes section of the application. Our goal is a diverse finale, so we divide weeks into general genre categories.

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You don't need a website or music video to apply; those fields are optional and included for convenience. The music links should give us a clear sense of your sound, but they can also be links to files on a shared drive. Publication is not required. 

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2027 Application Timeline

September 21, 2026 - Band applications open

October 25, 2026 - Applications close

November 23, 2026 - Selected bands and artists announced

November 27, 2026 - Tickets go on sale

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