Battle for the Barge - 2026

Share Battle for the Barge - 2026 on Facebook Share Battle for the Barge - 2026 on Twitter Share Battle for the Barge - 2026 on Linkedin Email Battle for the Barge - 2026 link


2026 BATTLE FOR THE BARGE

FIRST PLACE Performs Sunday July 19th at 730pm

SECOND & THIRD PLACE Perform on Sunday August 9th at 7pm

The first year of the Battle for the Barge! Winner Nights - - - YOU chose 5 bands that would take the stage in addition to our regular, Music on the Barge concert season. The second year, we whittled down the talent, elimination style! where YOU chose 1 band to play a show in our regular concert lineup. This year, YOU will choose a FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE winner, who will be added to our 2026 Music on the Barge concert season.

Here is how the “Battle for the Barge works

Call for Artists, Band Registration Period

Registration Window: Now until April 3rd, 2026

  • This is the time you should be sharing this page with the bands you want to see take the stage this season so they can enter! There is so much local talent near and far that might be a perfect fit for this community tradition.

  • Artists submit ONE performance video link, ideally “live” (no fancy editing required!). The judges will review submissions put forward 16 bands that that make sense for the 2026 lineup.

  • Your band must be willing to put a soft hold on July 19 & August 9 until the first, second and third place winners are notified on Monday April 27, 2026.

  • Provide a stage plot or input list so our Sound Technician can review your needs to make sure we can support your show.

Who are the judges? Shawna Patterson (Director of Recreation & Culture), Kelly Hamilton (Theatre Manager at The Gravenhurst Opera House), Fred Schulz (Long time staff veteran of Music on the Barge & The Gravenhurst Opera House) and Holly Carney (current coordinator for Music on the Barge) These four are intimately familiar with programming the Music on the Barge (and Gravenhurst Opera House) lineup and audiences.

Round 1: Let The Battle Begin - Out Of 16 Entries, YOU Choose 8 Bands To Move On To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 6 Starting at 8am to Friday April 10 at noon

  • The judges will release the entries to the public on our Facebook & Instagram page. If you don't currently LIKE / FOLLOW, please pop over now so you don't miss a thing!

  • Voters (you, the public! people who attend Music on the Barge each Sunday from June 28 to September 6) will review each video entry and choose the 8 bands (out of 16) that you feel should make it to the next round. Please make your selections only ONCE. Multiple submissions from the same person will not count and will be deleted.

Round 2: Time To Vote for 4 Bands To Move To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 13 Starting at 8am to Friday April 17 at noon.

  • 16 bands went down to 8 bands! Please choose FOUR bands that you feel should make it to the next round. It's getting exciting isn't it?!

  • Same rules as above - only one set of selections per person - multiple submissions from the same person will be deleted.

Semi-Finals : Vote for 2 Bands To Move To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 20 Starting at 8am to Friday April 24 at noon.

  • 16 bands went down to 8 bands down to 4 bands ... and now you need to pick TWO bands to move forward to the final round.

  • A reminder, only one set of selections per voter, multiples will be deleted.

Finals : Vote for the First Place Winner

Voting Period: Monday April 27 Starting at 8am to Friday May 1 at noon.

  • 16 bands went down to 8 bands down to 4 bands ... and now you need to pick the first place winner! Who will it be? Don't worry - the one you don't pick for first will still play on the barge this season - just on a different night!


The Winners Will Be Announced

Monday May 4th, 2026 at 8am

First Place Plays Sunday July 20, 2026 at 730pm

Third Place Plays First Set on Sunday August 9, 2026 at 7pm

Second Place Plays Second Set on Sunday August 9, 2026 at 7:45pm



FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How Do We Vote for the Winner of the Battle for the Barge?

Voting takes place right here, so bookmark this page! LIKE or FOLLOW our social channels to stay up to date with how the battle is going!

How Do We Register Our Band?

Click on the 'SURVEY' link at the bottom of this page! Fill it out and send it back to us by April 3, 2026!

If my band is chosen, will it be a paid gig?

Yes of course however we hope you will keep in mind when filling out that line in the application that this is a free will offering style of concert, we don't charge admission.

Voting runs from April 6 to May 1

Let the battle begin!



About Music On The Barge:

Join this annual summer tradition at Gull Lake Rotary Park in Gravenhurst. Admission is by free will offering! Money collected goes to helping offset the cost of keeping this great tradition alive! Please give generously if you are able to.

Music on the Barge is an annual summer tradition at Gull Lake Rotary Park. Check out the entire Music on the Barge lineup at www.MusicOnTheBarge.com and follow us on social for event updates!

Interested in the history of the barge? Learn more here.


2026 BATTLE FOR THE BARGE

FIRST PLACE Performs Sunday July 19th at 730pm

SECOND & THIRD PLACE Perform on Sunday August 9th at 7pm

The first year of the Battle for the Barge! Winner Nights - - - YOU chose 5 bands that would take the stage in addition to our regular, Music on the Barge concert season. The second year, we whittled down the talent, elimination style! where YOU chose 1 band to play a show in our regular concert lineup. This year, YOU will choose a FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE winner, who will be added to our 2026 Music on the Barge concert season.

Here is how the “Battle for the Barge works

Call for Artists, Band Registration Period

Registration Window: Now until April 3rd, 2026

  • This is the time you should be sharing this page with the bands you want to see take the stage this season so they can enter! There is so much local talent near and far that might be a perfect fit for this community tradition.

  • Artists submit ONE performance video link, ideally “live” (no fancy editing required!). The judges will review submissions put forward 16 bands that that make sense for the 2026 lineup.

  • Your band must be willing to put a soft hold on July 19 & August 9 until the first, second and third place winners are notified on Monday April 27, 2026.

  • Provide a stage plot or input list so our Sound Technician can review your needs to make sure we can support your show.

Who are the judges? Shawna Patterson (Director of Recreation & Culture), Kelly Hamilton (Theatre Manager at The Gravenhurst Opera House), Fred Schulz (Long time staff veteran of Music on the Barge & The Gravenhurst Opera House) and Holly Carney (current coordinator for Music on the Barge) These four are intimately familiar with programming the Music on the Barge (and Gravenhurst Opera House) lineup and audiences.

Round 1: Let The Battle Begin - Out Of 16 Entries, YOU Choose 8 Bands To Move On To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 6 Starting at 8am to Friday April 10 at noon

  • The judges will release the entries to the public on our Facebook & Instagram page. If you don't currently LIKE / FOLLOW, please pop over now so you don't miss a thing!

  • Voters (you, the public! people who attend Music on the Barge each Sunday from June 28 to September 6) will review each video entry and choose the 8 bands (out of 16) that you feel should make it to the next round. Please make your selections only ONCE. Multiple submissions from the same person will not count and will be deleted.

Round 2: Time To Vote for 4 Bands To Move To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 13 Starting at 8am to Friday April 17 at noon.

  • 16 bands went down to 8 bands! Please choose FOUR bands that you feel should make it to the next round. It's getting exciting isn't it?!

  • Same rules as above - only one set of selections per person - multiple submissions from the same person will be deleted.

Semi-Finals : Vote for 2 Bands To Move To The Next Round

Voting Period: Monday April 20 Starting at 8am to Friday April 24 at noon.

  • 16 bands went down to 8 bands down to 4 bands ... and now you need to pick TWO bands to move forward to the final round.

  • A reminder, only one set of selections per voter, multiples will be deleted.

Finals : Vote for the First Place Winner

Voting Period: Monday April 27 Starting at 8am to Friday May 1 at noon.

  • 16 bands went down to 8 bands down to 4 bands ... and now you need to pick the first place winner! Who will it be? Don't worry - the one you don't pick for first will still play on the barge this season - just on a different night!


The Winners Will Be Announced

Monday May 4th, 2026 at 8am

First Place Plays Sunday July 20, 2026 at 730pm

Third Place Plays First Set on Sunday August 9, 2026 at 7pm

Second Place Plays Second Set on Sunday August 9, 2026 at 7:45pm



FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How Do We Vote for the Winner of the Battle for the Barge?

Voting takes place right here, so bookmark this page! LIKE or FOLLOW our social channels to stay up to date with how the battle is going!

How Do We Register Our Band?

Click on the 'SURVEY' link at the bottom of this page! Fill it out and send it back to us by April 3, 2026!

If my band is chosen, will it be a paid gig?

Yes of course however we hope you will keep in mind when filling out that line in the application that this is a free will offering style of concert, we don't charge admission.

Voting runs from April 6 to May 1

Let the battle begin!



About Music On The Barge:

Join this annual summer tradition at Gull Lake Rotary Park in Gravenhurst. Admission is by free will offering! Money collected goes to helping offset the cost of keeping this great tradition alive! Please give generously if you are able to.

Music on the Barge is an annual summer tradition at Gull Lake Rotary Park. Check out the entire Music on the Barge lineup at www.MusicOnTheBarge.com and follow us on social for event updates!

Interested in the history of the barge? Learn more here.

  • Register Your Band

    Thank you for your interest in playing Music on the Barge! We are excited to learn more about you. Keep in mind that just because you have submitted a registration of interest, it doesn't mean that you will be nominated into the 'virtual battle for the barge'. All submissions will be reviewed and 16 bands will be selected by the judges to participate in the battle based on experience programming for audiences of Music on the Barge (and our other municipal entertainment venue, The Gravenhurst Opera House) to help ensure the sustainability of both spaces.

    Complete Form
    Share Register Your Band on Facebook Share Register Your Band on Twitter Share Register Your Band on Linkedin Email Register Your Band link
Page last updated: 28 Mar 2026, 01:25 PM