Calling all New emerging Bands and Artists, Competition of a lifetime!
The Road to Lakefest
Supporting grass root music
The Road to Lakefest returns giving new bands and artists the chance to win incredible prizes and perform live on the Abbey Main Stage at Lakefest 2027!
Here’s what’s up for grabs:
To be confirmed
1st Prize
£1,500
+- Perform live on the Abbey Main Stage
- 3 days recording at Mark Gardener of Ride’s – OX4 Studios, professionally produced.
2nd Prize
£750
3rd Prize
£500
Plus, 18 bands will also get to perform at Lakefest on the Road to Lakefest Stage!
How it works
The competition takes place across 4 exciting rounds:
ROUND 1:
The 30
30 acts from all entries will be selected to move forward to Round 2 for public voting.
Round 2:
Public Vote
The 30 successful entries will submit a video to accompany the track you submitted (this can be filmed on a phone, just get creative!).
Videos will be uploaded to the Lakefest website, where the public will vote for their favourites.
Round 3:
Semi Final
The top 18 bands will perform a 20-minute live set at the Croft Farm’s Lakeside Cafe & Bar on 23rd or 24th May 2027
ROUND 4:
GRAND FINAL
Brewery Summerjam, Cheltenham
Saturday 27th June 2027
The top 6 bands from the semi-finals will battle it out live at Summerjam in Cheltenham.
The winners will be crowned here and will go on to perform on the Main Stage at Lakefest 2027 in August!
2026 Winner!
Fran Lusty
At OX4 Sound Studios
With Mark Gardener
2025 Winner!
Laurie Macmahon
