Apply to the 2025 Bitter Jester Music Festival!

Apply to the 2025 Bitter Jester Music Festival!

Applications for the 2024 Festival are now closed.

Looking to apply to a Chicagoland music fest that’s challenging and fun? Look no further than Bitter Jester.

APPLICATIONS OPEN JAN. 15, 2025

In the meantime, check out our online “How To Apply” Clinic + Q&A on YouTube! Learn how to submit the strongest application possible

You can also download the PDF of the presentation (updated for 2024) to read any time and share with your bandmates.

Now you’ll be ready to apply before the deadline.

BJMF is an incredible Chicagoland “battle of the bands style” Music Festival
Win a chance to perform at Ravinia Festival next summer on the beautiful Carousel Stage
Win a chance to perform at Navy Pier’s Beer Garden on gorgeous Lake Michigan
Win studio recording and mixing time courtesy of various music studios
Win other prizes including “Musician of the Year” awards and free gear courtesy of Sweetwater Sound in Indiana

The Bitter Jester Music Festival is a “Battle of the Bands” style event that consists of four standalone Preliminary Concerts and a Grand Finale in Highland Park, IL.

Competition bands and solo performers play on one Preliminary night. Preliminary Concert winners (plus four “Wild Cards” advance to the Grand Finale.

Performers be available to play at the Grand Finale in order to compete in a Preliminary Concert.

Our 2024 Lineup will be announced in May!

IMPORTANT 2024 DATES TO REMEMBER:

Applications Go Live: February 2

Early Application Deadline: March 15

Application Deadline: April 22

Entrants Notified of Acceptance/Nonacceptance: May 3-4

Satellite Series Concerts (TBA): June 3 & June 10

Preliminary Concerts: June 7, June 8, June 14, and June 15, 2024 (6 - 10:30pm at Port Clinton Square)

Wild Cards Announced: The week of June 17

Grand Finale Concert: Saturday, June 29, 2024 (Exact time TBA at The Lot entertainment space)*

Special Showcase Concert at Ravinia Festival: A 2023 BJMF Finalist will open for a TBA National Headliner (Date/Time TBA)

Best Of Showcase Concert at Navy Pier’s Beer Garden: Monday, September 2, 2024 (1:20 - 8pm)

All prize monies generously donated by First Bank of Highland Park, a Title Sponsor of our Grand Finale Concerts!

Click here to read about the prizes & opportunities for our musicians as well as eligibility requirements.

*Note: We no longer hold our Grand Finale on Independence Day in Highland Park, IL.

Listen to a mashup of commentary from past participants

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for the latest updates or email us any time: music[at]bitterjester[dot]com.

Couldn’t be more exited to announce our Ludwig Drums sponsorship for 2024!! Meet our TWO new drum kits from @ludwigdrumshq (currently being custom built in North Carolina)!! All our 2024 drummers will get to hit these beauties in June! 🤟🏼🥁🤟

Last chance to throw your name in for this year’s Bitter Jester Music Fest! 24 lucky artists will be selected to compete and another 3 dozen will showcase! Link in bio - deadline is midnight tonight!

Official Lineup announced in early May!!

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Sound on! ONLY ONE DAY LEFT TO APPLY to the 2024 Bitter Jester Music Fest! Deadline is 11:59pm CST tomorrow night! Win studio time, gear, cash, and other great prizes! Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to app

Apply to Bitter Jester Music Fest today - deadline in TWO DAYS! Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply (link in bio)!

Tess is a former multi-year competitor in BJMF (and a returning judge)! Her feedback

Sound on! ONLY THREE DAYS LEFT TO APPLY to the 2024 Bitter Jester Music Festival! One lucky finalist will open for a National Headliner @raviniafestival in 2025 on the Carousel Stage! Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be unde

Bitter Jester Music Fest deadline in FOUR DAYS! Female musicians wanted - all styles of music welcome! Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply and solo artists are welcome (link in bio).

Karol is a former

Sound on! Only 5 DAYS left to Apply to Bitter Jester 2024! One lucky finalist will open for a National Headliner @raviniafestival in 2025 on the Carousel Stage! Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply (lin

Bitter Jester Music Fest deadline in 6 days! Midwest Bands & Solo Artists wanted. Only requirement is at least half the members of a band must be under 22 to apply — solo artists welcome (link in bio)…

Mariah is a former BJMF compet

Sound on! ONE WEEK LEFT to Apply to Bitter Jester 2024! One lucky finalist will open for a National Headliner @raviniafestival in 2025 on the Carousel Stage! Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply (link i

Bitter Jester Music Fest deadline in 8 days! All music styles welcome. Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply and solo artists are welcome (link in bio)…

Hanna is a former BJMF competitor and our

Sound on! Apply to Bitter Jester Music Fest today - deadline in 9 days! Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply (link in bio)!

@dman1340 from Scorched Waves is seen (and heard!) here on fire soloing like

Bitter Jester Music Fest deadline in 10 days! Seeking all styles of music. Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply (link in bio)!

Adam Beck was our very first BJMF Grand Champion in 2006 with his band &ld

Sound on! Apply to Bitter Jester Music Fest today - deadline in 11 days. Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply (link in bio)!

Pictured here: @_noah_martin_ from Free Joel rocks out at BJMF 2023 to the o

Bitter Jester Music Fest deadline in 12 days! Female rock stars wanted! Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply (link in bio)!

Maddie is a former BJMF competitor and her thoughts echo many of the female m

Sound on! Apply to Bitter Jester Music Fest today - deadline in 13 days! Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply (link in bio)!

@mwolf16 from Ur Mom is seen (and heard!) here rockin’ out at the 2023

Apply to Bitter Jester Music Fest today - deadline in TWO WEEKS! Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply (link in bio)!

Elijah is a former multi-year competitor in BJMF (and a future judge)! His thoughts

Apply to Bitter Jester Music Fest today! Deadline 4/22. Only requirement: at least half the members of a band must be 21 or younger to apply (link in bio)!

@christian_keller23 from David’s House is pictured here rockin’ out at the 2023 B

We need to take a moment to acknowledge the truly INCREDIBLE people @sweetwatersound in Indiana and just give a shout out to their amazing (and, sadly, pretty unique) corporate culture. If more companies had white glove customer service like them, ou

101.9 The Mix was our Media Sponsor in 2022!

Supporters of the Bitter Jester Music Festival:

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