Call for applications: Afropunk Battle of the Bands

Entry forms for the competition are available on the Afropunk website and submissions close on 22 October. Voting will then take place from 26 October to 9 November.

Applicants are required to provide:

• Name
• Email
• Phone number
• Links to social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
• Links to music
• Links to live performance videos
• A short bio

Artist from Soweto, Tembisa, Pretoria, Tsakane and surrounding areas are eligible to participate in the battle. The top four bands from each area – 16 in total – will be selected to go through to the semi-finals. Four bands will then be selected to represent each area in the final on 15 December. The winner will also be given R15 000 ($1 100) in prizes.

“Fans are the bands, bands are the fans. We are looking forward to seeing which South African talents will make it to the stage at the end of the year at Constitution Hill,” Afropunk founder Matthew Morgan said.

Morgan said the US version of the Afropunk Festival Battle of the Bands had launched the careers for many artists.   

“It has resulted in promising careers for a number of acts: Unlocking the Truth signed a record deal for $1.7m, The Skins signed a record deal with the producer and co-founder of Def Jam, Rick Rubin, and Tank and the Bangas made notable media appearances including an amazing performance with NPR, the respected online radio station. They also won the Tiny Desk Contest, which is a big deal.”

The first Afropunk Festival was hosted at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2005. The festival has since grown to include cities around the world such as Paris and London.