Locals bands to compete for performance slot at Wakarusa music festival

Ever wanted to play a national music festival?

Wakarusa organizers are hitting the streets to find 20 local bands to add to the lineup of the 2015 music and camping festival.

Starting in January the Waka Winter Classic will travel through 20 cities across 14 states in search of the best talent to share the stages with an expected roster of over 100 artists who’ll travel to play at the annual event.

The tour includes major cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, and St. Louis, but will also make a few stops in smaller college towns like Lawrence (Kansas), Columbia (Missouri) and Fayetteville.

Here’s how it works: Bands sign themselves up on the Waka Winter Classic website. Organizers then narrow the list down to five artists or groups in each city who’ll each play a set during a show at a local venue. The band that receives the most votes from audience members in attendance at the show will win a cash prize and an opportunity to perform at Wakarusa.

According to the tour calendar, the Fayetteville stop is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6 at George’s Majestic Lounge.

Bands hoping to make the cut have until Jan. 16 to sign up at the tour website.

The 2015 Wakarusa festival will take place June 4-7 on Mulberry Mountain near Ozark, Arkansas.

» Click here for signup information in each city


2015 Waka Winter Classic

Jan 22 – The Parish – Austin, TX
Jan 23 – Trees – Dallas, TX
Jan 24 – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
Jan 29 – Cervantes’ – Denver, CO
Jan 31 – Hodi’s Half Note – Ft. Collins, CO
Feb 6 – The Bottleneck – Lawrence, KS
Feb 6 – George’s Majestic Lounge – Fayetteville, AR
Feb 7 – Minglewood Hall – Memphis, TN
Feb 12 – Old Rock House – St. Louis, MO
Feb 12 – Mojo’s – Columbia, MO
Feb 13 – The Outland Ballroom – Springfield, MO
Feb 13 – Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE
Feb 19 – The Abbey – Chicago, IL
Feb 19 – Aisle 5 – Atlanta, GA
Feb 20 – Workplay – Birmingham, AL
Feb 21 – Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA
Feb 21 – 12th and Porter – Nashville, TN
Feb 26 – Duling Hall – Jackson, MS
Feb 27 – The Library at Northgate – Baton Rouge, LA
Feb 28 – Stickyz – Little Rock, AR