Think your band has what it takes to hit it out of the park? We’re looking for the best up-and-coming bands to compete in Play Your Way to the Park — a live Battle of the Bands where six local groups will rock the stage at the Vista Center for the Arts for a shot at performing at the 2026 Out of the Park Music Fest! This festival has 7000+ attendees and has featured popular artists including Ernest, Chase Matthew, and George Birge. The top 3 bands will also receive one day of studio recording time through On Stage Now’s Recording Assistance Program.
Deadline to Apply: December 14
Eligibility
- Bands located in the Metro-Phoenix region
- All ages welcome (parent/guardian signature required if under 18)
- Any genre may apply — country, pop, rock, or anything that gets the crowd on their feet!
- Bands must be able to provide their own instruments for performances
- Up to 5 band members per group
What You’ll Get
Selected bands for Play Your Way to the Park:
- Opportunity to perform 2 songs at Play Your Way to the Park on February 7
- Professional stage experience at the Vista Center for the Arts
- Top 3 will receive studio recording time through On Stage Now’s Recording Assistance Program
- 2 complimentary tickets to Out of the Park Music Festival on March 21 (per band member)
One stand-out band for Out of the Park Music Festival:
- Opportunity to open the 2026 Out of the Park Music Fest! on March 21
- $1000 artist fee for 30-minute set
Questions? Contact:
Julie Akerly, Arts and Culture Manager
julie.akerly@surpriseaz.gov | 623-222-2920
The final report will require the following information regarding your program, please gather data accordingly to prepare for your final report:
- How many total people were served by this grant?
- How many Surprise residents were served by this grant?
- How does your organization define success?
- What data did you collect to evaluate your success?
- What did you learn from the results of your data collection?
- Budget that shows specifically what grant funds were used towards
- Description of how grant funds were used
- What impact did city funding have on your programs and services in Surprise?
- Upload 5 professional quality images
*Grantee must authorize the City to use any and all images found in the Final Report for the Project, as well as the Final Report itself, for any lawful purpose that the City deems fit.