Battle of the Bands 2025 – Hume Conservatorium of Music Ltd.

Goulburn Lilac City Festival Youth Battle of the Bands: Showcasing Regional Musicians (12-24)

The Goulburn Lilac City Festival & Hume Conservatorium is proud to present the Youth Battle of the Bands, a vibrant showcase of the immense creative talent flourishing in our region. Recognising the need for a platform where young musicians can shine, the festival, in partnership with the Goulburn Hume Conservatorium, has made this exciting event possible. With fantastic cash prizes and performance opportunities up for grabs, this is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of the next generation of musical talent in our community. Don’t miss out on supporting these incredible young artists!

Entries Close 5 August 2025

Regional Youth Battle of the Bands Overview, Policies, Terms & Conditions

The Regional Youth Battle of the Bands is a celebration of rising talent across regional and surrounding communities. Whether you’re a solo artist, duo or band, this is your chance to share your sound, perform on stage, and take your music to the next level.

Participants will submit a video audition, with selected acts invited to participate in live audition rounds across multiple locations. Finalists will go on to compete in a live Grand Final in Goulburn during the Lilac City Festival.

Eligibility

Open to solo acts, duos and bands with members aged 12-24.
Acts must reside in Regional NSW Goulburn, Wagga, Young area and surrounds.
Competition age category is based on the oldest member of the group:
Junior: 12-16 years
Senior: 17-24 years
Each act may only enter once.

Submission & Selection Process

Step 1

All acts must submit a video performance including the following spoken intro at the start:

Say aloud,

Act name
The age of the oldest and the youngest members in the group
Age category you are entering (Junior or Senior)
Song title
Whether it’s an original or a cover
Your town/city and region

Video Requirements:

Must be a live performance, no audio editing or overdubs
Maximum length is 5 minutes
Files should be named: ActName_Category_Region_SongTitle.mp4
Submit by Youtube Upload and share link or email file to [email protected]
Entries close 5th August

Step 2

Live Audition Rounds

Selected entrants will be invited to perform at a live regional heat, taking place in various locations across NSW, ACT and the South Coast (TBC). Live auditions will help determine the finalists.

Finals

Selected acts from Video to Semi Finals
Finalists will be chosen from Regional Semi Finals of Wagga, Young and Goulburn
The Finals will take place in Goulburn during the Lilac City Festival on Saturday 4th of October 2025 at 4pm
Finalists must be available to perform live on the day.
Standard backline and sound crew provided.

Performance Content Policy

Originals encouraged, covers allowed (must be appropriate for a youth & public performance)
Lyrics and content must be family-friendly (no swearing, drug/alcohol references, or discriminatory content)
All performers must conduct themselves professionally at all stages of the competition.

Judging Criteria

Performances (both video and live) will be judged on:

Musical skill and technical ability
Creativity and originality
Performance quality and stage presence
Audience engagement and confidence

Judging decisions are final. Constructive feedback may be offered after the competition.

Prizes & Opportunities

Winners of each thecategories may receive:

Liveperformance slots at the Lilac Festival
Potential gig bookings (subject to availability)
Cash or music equiment prizes
Feature promotion through social and local media

*The two categories’ winners will face off in the finals for the chance to win: A mentoring workshop with Ben Tillman & the Yours and Owls team

Parental Consent Youth Safety (U18s)

If any member of the act is under 18, a parent or guadrian must complete a consent form at the time of video submission.
A nominated parent/guardian must be present at all live events (audition rounds and the final) to supervise the group.
This nominated parent/guardian will be responsible for the safety and conduct of all members of their act who are under 18.
The Festival team will coordinate with the nominated adult and provide relevant details and expectations prior to each event.
The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any group that fails to meet supervision or consent requirements.

Media Use Policy

By submitting, participants agree to:

Allow the Festival to use video, images and recordings for promotion.
Be included in social, print and online media coverage.
Credit will be provided wherever possible.

You may opt out of media use by notifying the organisers in writing prior to live rounds.

Withdrawal Policy

If an act can no longer participate in a live round or the final, they mst notify the organisers as early as possible. A replacement may be invited from the shortlist.

Privacy Policy

Personal details will only be used for event coordination and communication.
No information will be shared without permission.
Submission files will be securely stored and deleted after the event unless consent is given to retain them for promotion.

Contact Information

Questions?

Email us: [email protected]
Phone: 0448211839
Follow @GoulburnLilacCityFestival on social media for updates and announcements!

We acknowledge the traditional Custodians of this Land, where the Aboriginal People have performed age-old ceremonies of storytelling, music, dance and celebration. As a traditional meeting place, many first nations peoples came to this region. Underneath our buildings and roads this Land always will be traditional Aboriginal Land. in the same way, all music making genres and practices come from our musical elders, so we acknowledge those on whose skills and wisdom we draw.