Here’s a DIY, no-agent, no-gatekeeper guide for independent bands and artists who want festival slots without giving 10–20% of their fee (and control) to someone who may or may not be opening doors for them.
You do not need an agent to get booked on festivals.
You do need clarity, organisation, confidence, and a bit of hustle.
Many festivals (LOUD WOMEN included) actively prefer to work directly with artists.
Promoters are not mythical beasts. They are people. Usually tired people. Often unpaid or underpaid people. Make their job easier and you’ll already be ahead of 90% of applicants. Here’s how.
FIRST: WHERE TO APPLY
Many festivals – especially independent ones – actively want DIY bands and run open applications.
Where to find them:
- Festival websites (look for “Apply”, “Artists”, “Get Involved”)
- Festival Instagram bios / pinned posts
- Festival mailing lists
LOUD WOMEN Fest London – LOUD WOMEN Fest London always books via open application – no agents, no industry fast tracks. Applications are open until 2 March via this form only
I’ll save you a bit of legwork to get your started – there’s a loooong list of open applications at the end of this article, you’re welcome!
THE GOLDEN RULE OF APPLICATIONS
Assume the booker has:
- 5 minutes
- 200 applications
- a mild headache
Your job is not to tell your life story.
Your job is to make them think:
“Oh – I get this band. I want to see them live.”
WHAT TO INCLUDE (AND HOW TO MAKE IT COUNT)
1. YOUR BIO (SHORT. REAL. FROM THE HEART.)
Do not – repeat, DO NOT – use ChatGPT to write your bio.
Promoters can tell. It all sounds the same. And it says nothing about you.
A good bio:
- 3–5 short sentences
- Written like a human
- Tells us why you exist, not how “unique” you are
- Has some teeth
Bad bio red flags:
❌ “Genre-defying”
❌ “Pushing boundaries”
❌ “A sonic journey”
❌ “One of the most exciting bands to emerge…” (says who?)
Good bio example:
“We’re a queer punk band from Leeds writing loud songs about bad bosses, worse politicians and surviving group chats. We sound like early Bikini Kill having a bad day with Amyl and the Sniffers. Our live shows are fast, sweaWe’re a queer punk band from Leeds making loud, fast songs about bad bosses, worse politicians and surviving group chats. We sound like early Bikini Kill on a bad day colliding with Amyl and the Sniffers. Our live shows are sweaty, shouty and unapologetically communal.
“Absolutely ferocious live – the room didn’t stand a chance.”
– Jane Smith, Amazing Bands Blog
That tells me exactly what I’m getting.
2. WHAT YOU SOUND LIKE (BEFORE THEY CLICK)
This matters more than you think.
Promoters will often decide whether to click before they click.
Use comparisons if you’re comfortable with them:
- “For fans of…”
- “FFO…”
- “Somewhere between…”
This is not selling out. It’s communication.
3. PRAISE (BORROWED CREDIBILITY IS FINE)
If someone else has already said something good about you – use it.
This could be:
- A blogger
- A radio DJ
- A promoter who’s booked you
- A festival you’ve played
Example:
“A band who turn everyday frustration into something joyful and cathartic – scrappy, smart and impossible not to like.” – LOUD WOMEN, live review
“One of the best sets of the weekend” – XYZ Festival
Don’t overdo it. One or two strong lines is perfect.
4. LINKS: LESS IS MORE
This is where so many applications fall apart.
DO:
Link directly to:
- Your best official music video
- OR your strongest single
- ONE well-shot live video (good sound is non-negotiable)
DO NOT:
❌ Link to your entire YouTube channel
❌ Link to Dropbox folders with 47 files
❌ Link to shaky phone footage with distorted sound (the dodgy phone footage your mate took from the back of the room while pogoing)
❌ Make them “hunt” for the good stuff
If the sound is bad, don’t include it. Silence is better than a bad first impression.
FORMS VS EMAILS
If it’s a FORM:
- Answer what’s asked
- No essays
- No copy-paste waffle
- Treat every box like it matters (it does)
If you’re EMAILING A BOOKER DIRECTLY:
This is a pitch. Not a blast.
DO:
- Use their name
- Say why this festival makes sense for your band
- Keep it structured and polite
- Include links (no attachments)
DO NOT:
❌ Send mass emails
❌ Send attachments
❌ Say “did you get my email?” (instant nope)
GOOD FOLLOW-UP:
Follow up once, with new info:
- New release
- Recent support slot
- Festival confirmation elsewhere
Every email shows what you’ll be like to work with.
FINAL THOUGHT
Promoters are not looking for perfection.
They are looking for:
- Honesty
- Energy
- Reliability
- Bands who mean something
If your application sounds like you,
If your links show your best work,
If your communication is respectful and clear, you’re already doing it right. See you on a festival stage!
Festivals with open applications (updated January 2025)
- February 2026
- 13-15: Riverboats Music Festival, Echuca, Victoria, Australia – Apply here
- March 2026
- 6-22: Chipping Norton Music Festival, Chipping Norton – Apply here (applications close 1 February 2026)
- 19-22: Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival, Okeechobee County, Florida, USA – Apply here
- 20-22: Cullulleraine Music Festival, Victoria, Australia – Apply here
- April 2026
- 15-19: Bali Spirit Festival, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia – Apply here
- 23-26: Launch Music Conference Festival, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA – Apply here (applications close 15 February 2026)
- 24-26: Brick Lane Jazz Festival, London – Apply here
- 30-1 May: Wide Days, Edinburgh – Apply here (applications close 27 February 2026)
- May 2026
- 1-3: LOOPFEST, Shrewsbury – Apply here
- 1-3: Teddy Rocks, Blandford Forum – Apply here
- 1-4: Crossover Festival, Calverton, Nottingham – Apply here
- 4-10: Departure, Toronto, Canada – Apply here (applications close 23 January 2026)
- 8-10: Dunn Folkin’ Around? Music & Arts Festival, Dunn Lake, British Columbia, Canada – Apply here
- 9: Hanwell Hootie, London – Apply here
- 13-16: The Great Escape, Brighton – Apply here (applications close 15 February 2026)
- 16: RecFest, Portchester – Apply here
- 22-24: In It Together Festival, Margam, Wales – Apply here
- 22-24: Mews Fest, Manchester – Apply here
- 23-24: Dot To Dot Festival, Bristol and Nottingham – Apply here
- 29-31: Wychwood Festival, Cheltenham – Apply here (applications close 1 March 2026)
- 30: Bring the Noise Festival, Sheffield
- June 2026
- 6: DonnyFest, Doncaster – Apply here
- 6: Music Barn, Kettering – Apply here
- 6-7: Exeter Respect Festival, Exeter – Apply here
- 10-14: Download Festival, Castle Donington – Apply here
- 19-20: Beaumont Music Festival, Alberta, Canada – Send applications to submit@beaumontmusicfestival.ca (Canadian musicians only)
- 20-21: Africa Oyé, Liverpool – Apply here
- 25-27: Blue Ox Music Festival, Eau Claire, Wisconsin – Apply here
- 26-28: AthFest, Athens, Georgia, USA – Apply here (applications close 14 February 2026)
- July 2026
- 2-4: Stendal festival (applications close 5 Jan)
- 2-5: Gate to Southwell Festival, Southwell – Apply here
- 2-5: Folk In A Field, West Acre – Apply here
- 3-5: Love Supreme, Glynde – Apply here
- 3-11: Bucharest Jazz Competition, Bucharest, Romania – Applyhere (applications close 1 March 2026)
- 8-11: 2000trees, Cheltenham – Apply here
- 10-12: Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival, Birmingham – Apply here
- 10-12: NLFB Festival, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada – Apply here
- 10-12: Priddy Folk Festival, Mendip Hills – Apply here
- 16-19: Big Love Festival, Usk, Wales – Apply here
- 16-19: Nowadaze Festival, Yate – Apply here
- 17-18: Sound of Iona Music Festival, Iona, Scotland – Apply here
- 17-19: Back Doune The Rabbit Hole, Scotland – email here
- 18: On The Meadow Festival, Walthamstow – Apply here
- 24-26: Tewkesbury Live, Tewkesbury – Apply here
- 24-26: Together Again Festival, Bolesworth Castle, Cheshire – Apply here
- 30-1 August: Belladrum Festival, Belladrum, Scotland – Apply here
- 30-2 August: Camp Bestival, Dorset – Apply here
- 31-2 August: Stroud Beer Festival, Stroud – Apply here
- August 2026
- 3-9: Mo:Dem Festival, Primišlje, Croatia – Apply here
- 3-30: The Camden Fringe – applications open 5 Jan
- 6-9: Bloodstock Festival, Derbyshire – Apply here
- 7-9: OFF Festival, Katowice, Poland – Send your application to muzyka@off-festival.pl.
- 24-30: Sunshine Music Festival, Upton upon Severn – Apply here
- 28-30: Big Feastival, Kingham – Apply here
- 28-30: Camper Calling, Warwickshire – Apply here
- 28-30: Victorious Festival, Southsea – Apply here (applications close 28 March 2026)
- 28-31: Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Shrewsbury – Apply here
- 29-31 (TBC): Wokingham Festival, Wokingham – Apply here
- TBC: Pigeon Lake Music Festival, Alberta, Canada – Apply here
- 4-6: Sound City Festival, Forest Row, East Sussex – Apply here
- 15-20: Harvest Music Festival, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada – Apply here
- 24-27: Highlands Music Festival, Palmer Rapids, Ontario, Canada – Apply here (applications 31 January 2026)
- 25-27: Euroblast Festival, Cologne, Germany – Apply here
- TBC: Sonic Boom Festival, Burton upon Trent – Apply by email here
- September 2026
- 5: LOUD WOMEN Fest, London – Apply here
- October 2026
- 30: The Fest, Gainesville, Florida