Fans will once again be able to pick the opening band for the Hop Jam beer and music festival in May.
The Tulsa World’s Awesome Music Opening Band Contest is officially open, with Hanson picking finalists and fans deciding who will play first during the Sunday, May 17 festival.
Bands can start submitting videos now for their group to open the festival; as last year, Hanson will close the show. The contest period runs through midnight April 24 attulsaworld.com/awesomemusiccontest.
Three finalists will be chosen by members of Hanson, then fans will get their turn to vote, ultimately selecting the opening band.
Voting will close at midnight May 8, and winners will be announced May 11. The festival kicks off at 3 p.m. May 17, the last day of Mayfest, in the Brady Arts District.
Last year’s Opening Band Contest winner, Capital Cars, recently performed at South by Southwest in Austin, and has performed and recorded throughout the year.
Hundreds of entries were received last year, with a tight race to the finish after thousands of votes were cast.
Capital Cars joined a varied and electric lineup of musicians who played at the inaugural festival last year. Hanson closed the show, which featured performances from Taddy Porter, Butch Walker and Robert Randolph & the Family Band.
With a stage at the corner of Main and Archer streets, the crowd through the day spread over the parking lot area. An estimated 30,000 attended last year’s festival.
The contest is run in conjunction with Hop Jam and the Oklahoma Film and Music Office.