Championing the unusual, the unorthodox and the unheard, Battle of the Bands is nonclassical’s emerging talent platform for early career performers 

Battle of the Bands is back! Returning in March 2026 after a two-year hiatus, Battle of the Bands showcases new voices in experimental, electronic and contemporary classical music. For one night only at a venue in London, five artists will perform a set to an enthusiastic audience and a panel of industry leaders and artists.

Supporting early career artists

Supporting emerging artists and their creative output is a key part of our core values. Battle of the Bands supports artists at the start of their career by giving them a platform to perform, exposing their work to new audiences and enabling vital feedback from key figures in the industry. We define emerging artists as those with less than a total of ten years’ experience – this does not have to be ten consecutive years of practice, as we recognise that breaks are common.

who we’re looking for

We’re looking for bold, emerging artists working within / across experimental, electronic, and contemporary classical music. Artists must be UK-based, 18+, and can commit to a performance in London in March 2026 (date to be confirmed). If you’re unsure as to whether your act is fitting for Battle of the Bands, check out our playlist of past performances here.

The concert will feature up to five sets from different acts. Sets should be no longer than 15 minutes. We will be prioritising sets from solo and duo acts, and all performers will receive a Musicians’ Union rate of £162.30 for the performance.

The winning act will receive mentorship and development opportunities from the Nonclassical team and its extended community, including sessions on:

• Labels

• Marketing

• Event production

All participants will also receive professional photography of their performance, and a high-quality audio recording.

the selection process

Up to five acts will be selected through an open call, run according to Sound and Music’s Fair Access Principles (available to view here). Acts will be selected by a panel watching and listening to the performance examples submitted and the proposed programme, looking at whether it aligns to our mission of showcasing the best new experimental, electronic and contemporary classical music.

In the Google Form, each act must submit:

• A short biography

• An outline of their proposed set, up to 15 minutes long (e.g. set list or improvisation, including lengths of pieces)

• Two example links of their work (video or audio)

• Tech rider

They must also fill out our Equal Opportunities monitoring form.

Artists can apply with text, video, or audio, but please ensure that all links are viewable and do not expire before the end of January 2026. If you have any questions or need any adjustments, please contact marcella@nonclassical.co.uk.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE AT 10AM ON MONDAY 15 DECEMBER, 2025.

frequently asked questions

support us

Thanks to the Hinrichsen Foundation for providing seed funding for this vital project.

The true costs of running Battle of the Bands are considerable: we are looking to raise an additional £3,000+ through tickets, donations and sponsors. These funds will enable us to offer more support and development opportunities to our finalists.

If you’d like to get involved in supporting the future of new music performers as a sponsor, donor or partner, please get in touch with Alice at development@nonclassical.co.uk.

You can also donate directly here. As a charity, all funds go straight back into our work supporting emerging artists to make new music.

We are grateful to previous supporters and donors of this programme, including those who wish to remain anonymous, including the PRSF Open Fund and Talent Development Network.

Past competitions