Apply to the 2025 Bitter Jester Music Festival!
Looking to apply to a Chicagoland music fest that’s challenging and fun? Look no further than Bitter Jester. Applications are now open!
Click here to read about BJMF’s prizes & opportunities for young musicians as well as festival eligibility requirements.
We’ll be hosting an updated Application Clinic live on Zoom on Sun, Jan. 26, at 5pm CST. Learn how to submit the strongest possible application. Click here to sign up!
You can also download the PDF of the 2023 Application Clinic (updated for 2025) to read any time and share with your bandmates.
BJMF is an incredible Chicagoland “battle of the bands style” Music Festival
Win a chance to perform at Ravinia Festival next summer on the beautiful Carousel Stage
Win a chance to perform at Navy Pier’s Beer Garden on gorgeous Lake Michigan
Win studio recording and mixing time courtesy of various music studios
Win other prizes including “Musician of the Year” awards and free gear courtesy of Sweetwater Sound in Indiana
The Bitter Jester Music Festival is a “Battle of the Bands” style event that consists of four standalone Preliminary Concerts and a Grand Finale in Highland Park, IL.
Competition bands and solo performers play on one Preliminary night. Preliminary Concert winners (plus four “Wild Cards” advance to the Grand Finale.
Performers be available to play at the Grand Finale in order to compete in a Preliminary Concert.
Our 2025 Lineup will be announced in May!
IMPORTANT 2025 DATES TO REMEMBER:
Applications Go Live: January
Early Application Deadline: March 1
Application Deadline: April 20
Entrants Notified of Acceptance/Nonacceptance: May 2-4
Satellite Concerts at Chicago Botanic Garden: June 2 & June 9 (Glencoe, IL)
Preliminary Concerts: June 6, June 6, June 13, and June 14 (5:30 - 10:30pm at Port Clinton Square, Highland Park, IL)
Wild Cards Announced: The week of June 16
Grand Finale Concert: Saturday, June 28 (Exact time & location TBA)*
Special Showcase Concert at Ravinia Festival: A 2024 BJMF Finalist will open for a TBA National Headliner this summer (Date/Time TBA in Highland Park, IL)
Best Of Showcase Concert at Navy Pier’s Beer Garden: Monday, September 1, 2025 (1:20 - 8pm in Chicago, IL)
All prize monies generously donated by First Bank of Highland Park, a Title Sponsor of our Grand Finale Concerts!
*Note: We no longer hold our Grand Finale on Independence Day in Highland Park, IL.
Listen to a mashup of commentary from past participants
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for the latest updates or email us any time: music[at]bitterjester[dot]com.
101.9 The Mix was our Media Sponsor in 2022!
Supporters of the Bitter Jester Music Festival:
