Vern’s Stage

Band Submission Guidelines

To be eligible to perform on Vern’s Stage, bands must:

• play Bluegrass and/or Old-time music
• have significant experience gigging together
• not have played Vern’s Stage during the last two years (i.e., 2024 or 2025) with the exception that Youth Bands (bands with a majority of members under the age of 18 as of June 18, 2026) are eligible in consecutive years

Also, please note that Vern’s Stage bands are no longer required to be based in California.

Video Demo Requirements:
Bands must submit a recently recorded (within the last 6 months) self-made video audition reel with 3 songs/tunes representative of the music your band would play on Vern’s Stage. The members of the band in the video must be the same as those that will appear at the festival. At the start of this video, introduce the band, clearly state the date and your location, and then perform 3 pieces in a row without any cuts or edits. You will need to submit your recording as a YouTube or Dropbox (or similar) link. We expect cellphone or tablet quality, not professionally shot videos. Furthermore, we recommend recording your video demo in a quiet location (e.g., living room, backyard, etc.) for best results. Noisy bars are not the best environments for showcasing your talent.

In addition, the submission form will ask you to provide the following:

1. a high-resolution band photo (jpeg format, 300dpi or higher, approximately 3″ wide)
2. a biography of your band suitable for publication in the festival program (between 200 to 400 words)
3. a list of dates and locations of your band’s most recent 4-6 gigs
4. a list of days/times that your band is available during the festival