2026

BANDS of the Bay!

The 2025 Youth Band Competition was a success. We had fewer signups than the prior year, so we’re hopeful we can launch signups earlier in 2026 to increase participation!

Please mark this page and check back from time after time for updates on the 2026 Competition. Signups should open no later than APRIL 1st for the 2026 BANDS OF THE BAY, and we hope you and your band are there to try to take the title!

Please scroll down to see the scoring criteria for the Bands of the Bay Competitions.

THE SCORING CRITERIA:

COHESIVENESS - how does the band sound together? are they sounding like a cohesive unit or separate players playing the same song?;

ORIGINALITY - are you playing carbon copies of “cover songs” or are you making it your own? Are you playing songs written by you or your band or not? those with compelling original songs will rate high in X Factor (keep reading);

OVERALL SOUND BALANCE - is everything sounding balanced or are we only hearing drum cymbals? etc. etc.,

TECHNICAL READINESS: set up and ready to play efficiently? Taking forever to soundcheck, or being distracted by other things? Does the band seem like they know how to handle any issues that may arise smoothly?

“X FACTOR” - the somewhat indescribable feeling a unique act gives you when they perform.

*Each category has a total of 10 possible points, maximum score is 50.

The 2025 WINNERS: F.A.T. BETTY

Second Place: HeadSpace

Third Place: 9th Planet

It was an EPIC competition this year! All three of the finalists were great bands! Be sure to follow them and check ‘em out!