Rock The Lake and Red Bird Brewing’s Battle of the Bands Returns for a Second Year, Applications Now Open!
Rock The Lake Music Festival and Red Bird Brewing are bringing live music back to where it thrives with the return of Battle of the Bands for its second year. The two-night event will take place April 24 and 25, 2026, at Red Bird Brewing’s North End location and is now accepting applications from local musicians and bands.
Battle of the Bands offers emerging artists the chance to earn a paid performance slot at Rock The Lake Music Festival 2026, which returns to downtown Kelowna this July. Open to all sub-genres of rock, the competition celebrates local talent while giving artists the opportunity to perform on one of the city’s biggest festival stages.
Following a sold-out inaugural event in February 2025, the Battle of the Bands showcased exceptional talent from across the Okanagan. The competition drew packed crowds over both nights at Red Bird Brewing and was so competitive that two winners were selected. CrushXO and Lucky Monkey went on to open on the Rock The Lake 2025 main stage, with CrushXO performing ahead of Simple Plan on Saturday and Lucky Monkey opening for The Sheepdogs on Sunday.
“Seeing CrushXO and Lucky Monkey take the Rock The Lake stage in 2025 was an incredible moment for our festival and our community,” says Trish Jelinski, General Manager & Vice President, GSL Group Sports and Entertainment (Rock The Lake Organizer). “It’s a powerful reminder of the talent in our own backyard. We’re excited to continue celebrating and supporting local artists by giving them a platform to connect with new fans and experience playing a classic Kelowna festival.”
The competition is open to local musicians and bands performing in all sub-genres of rock. Applications are now open online at rtlkelowna.com and will be accepted until February 28, 2026. There is no entry fee. Up to 10 bands will be selected as finalists by March 6, 2026, and selected bands will compete across two nights on April 24 and 25 at Red Bird Brewing’s outdoor stage.
“Hosting last year’s Battle of the Bands was a special way to showcase our incredibly talented local music scene,” says Adam Semeniuk, General Manager and Owner of Red Bird Brewing. “Moving to the outdoor stage this year gives us the chance to do what we already strive to do on a bigger scale: welcome even more people to celebrate live music, local creativity, and, of course, enjoy some great beers with our community.”
Each night, winners will be determined through a combination of audience participation and a panel of judges. At the conclusion of the event, two winning bands will be offered paid performance slots at Rock The Lake Music Festival 2026, taking place July 10–12, 2026, outside Prospera Place in downtown Kelowna.
Live music fans are invited to join the action, helping to crown the winner while enjoying two nights of incredible local talent. Tickets for Battle of the Bands will be available at redbirdbrewing.com.
More information about the Rock The Lake Music Festival 2026, including exciting headliners and additional ticket options, will be released soon. Weekend GA and VIP packages are available now at selectyourtickets.com. Stay updated for even more festival news by following Rock The Lake on Facebook, Instagram, or X.
