Road to Lakefest | Lakefest 2025

Calling all New emerging Bands and Artists, Competition of a lifetime!

Applications now open

How it works

Here at Lakefest we are excited to announce that The Road to Lakefest is Back. A chance for a new band or artist to win some fantastic prizes and the opportunity to play on the MainStage at Lakefest, sharing the stage with legends such as Echo and the Bunnymen, Groove Armada, Faithless and Busted. As well as £1500 first Prize, and 3 days recording at Mark Gardner of Ride’s – Ox4 Studios producing. 2nd Prize of £750 and 3rd Prize of £500. 18 bands wil also get to play at lakefest at the Road to Lakefest stage.

The Competition is spread over 4 rounds:

Round 1

Now Closed:

30 Acts from Round 1 are now through to Round 2 for public voting.

Round 2: Public Vote

30 successful entries will be chosen to go through to Round 2, where you will have to submit a video to go alongside you video. ( This can be all shot on a phone…..just be creative) This is where it will uploaded to the lakefest website and will be voted by the public.

Vote Now

Round 3: Semi Final

The Top 18 bands will go through to our live semi finals, to play a 20min set at This years Cheltenham Cider festival on either 24th or 25th May 2025

All bands through to this round will automatically get a slot playing at lakefest on the Road to Lakefest stage

See Event

Round 4: Grand Final

Brewery Summerjam Cheltenham 26th July 2025

6 bands chosen from the semi-finals will battle it out at the Summerjam in Cheltenham. The winners will be decided here and will perform on the main stage at Lakefest in August.