Search
Close this search box.

Performer Application

The application period to perform (or host a workshop) for the 2024 Tumbleweed Music Festival is now closed.  Performer applications for the 2025 Tumbleweed Music Festival will be available in late September or early October.  The application will be downloadable at that time using the button below.  As we will be having BOTH a live festival in Howard Amon park AND a Virtual element for our “Distance Performers,” be sure to check the appropriate box to indicate which you are applying for (and “Both” is also an acceptable answer!)

You will have until April 20 to complete the application and return it, along with the required sample tracks and supporting information.

The applications and accompanying files may be returned electronically (preferred), to Tumbleweedsubmissions@gmail.com, or as physical hardcopy (with accompanying CD or other storage device for your sample tracks) to TMF, PO Box 1098, Richland, WA 99352.

If accepted to perform in the festival, you will receive a preliminary performance confirmation by mid-June, along with instructions for submitting your performance videos and audio tracks. We look forward to hearing from you! 

Performer Application

Introduction

Dear Performers,

Three Rivers Folklife Society invites you to apply for the 27th annual Tumbleweed Music Festival. This year's live festival will take place from September 1 to 3, 2023, in Richland’s Howard Amon Park. We will also have a virtual element available at our festival website, http://tumbleweedmusicfestival.org.

Applications can be downloaded from our websites. Musicians must submit a complete application with sample audio recordings even if you have appeared at the festival in the past because our selection committee is different each year. Ideally there should be three to five song tracks in the style you will present at the Festival. Once an application is received, it will be reviewed, and you will receive confirmation of acceptance into the festival by mid-June, 2023.

You may submit the application along with three to five sample tracks electronically (high-quality .mp3s) to tumbleweedsubmissions@gmail.com, or by US mail or land carrier (CD or thumb drive) by April 20, 2023. We’re not looking for highly polished audition tracks – your simple living room recording will be fine, and is preferable to a heavily-produced and augmented studio track that doesn’t sound like you at a festival.

Please include a biography, a press kit, and professional-quality photos if available. In addition, please list all band member names.

Tumbleweed is produced entirely by volunteers, with cooperation from our co-sponsor the City of Richland and various local and regional supporters. Please read the attached performer policy, which should answer questions about performer selection, performance recordings, and other details.

If you have any questions, please call our Coordinator Katrina Knight at the numbers listed below, or by email to tumbleweedchair@gmail.com.

If accepted, you will receive a preliminary performance confirmation by mid-June. Final confirmations will be sent later.

For the part of our festival that will be online, we’re asking for pre-recorded performances from you, of the highest quality possible. To avoid any problems with glitchy internet connections when we present your performances to the world, please use our requirements below for your submissions.

  • Performances for the festival: one 10- to 15-minute set per performer. If you perform as more than one entity, then each one may submit a set.
  • Deadline for video submissions: July 15th, 2023.
  • For the flow of your set, begin as you normally would live on stage, followed by your performance, including giving the name of each number before performing it.
  • Record your video at the highest resolution possible, up to 4K; we desire at least 1080p if at all possible. Video formats: .mp4 or .mov. Please ask us before sending any other format. If all you can use is a phone or a webcam, please make sure that the phone is in the HORIZONTAL position when you record your performance. (Note that we will review all recorded performances; if we judge that the quality is too low, we reserve the right to not include the performance in the festival. [We’ll be quite forgiving]).
  • If at all possible, please record your audio to a separate, high-quality file (e.g., .WAV, .mp4/AAC, FLAC, etc.) at the highest sample rate possible; submit this file along with your video file (with its native audio track intact), and we’ll take care of the final assembly.
  • Please leave at least 5 seconds at the beginning and the ending of your recording that are just silent - this makes editing easier and allows for subsequent removal of ambient sounds, if needed.
  • We would love it if you started your set with some short remarks about Tumbleweed, and your feelings about the festival.
  • If you are a group who must each record separately from different locations, please do the assembly and editing before sending to us.
  • File transfers will be via a link that will be sent to you. Please send an email to tumbleweedsubmissions@gmail.com when you are ready to submit, and we’ll send you a link for you to upload your video and audio files.
  • When you send the files for your performances, please make sure to send us the address(es) of your own websites (for your merchandise) and tip jar(s), so that we may be sure to include them on your performance screen and on a separate Performer Bio page on the festival site that will remain live as long as the festival remains online.

Thank you for your interest. We hope to have your performance (live or recorded) at the 2023 Tumbleweed Music Festival!

The theme of the 2025 festival will be announced in early Autumn, once it has been chosen.  The festival Theme is the inspiration prompt for the Jane Titland Memorial Songwriting contest, and for the Sunday evening Theme concert.

Sincerely,

Katrina Knight, Festival Coordinator

Tumbleweedchair@gmail.com

Phone: (509) 587-3060

Festival Performer Policies

General policy: It is the intent of the Tumbleweed Music Festival to present high-quality, diverse music, dance, and instruction. A committee of volunteers selects performers based on the best interest of the festival from artistic, philosophic, programmatic and technical viewpoints. Our festival welcomes all applicants, but traditionally we have featured mostly acoustic acts. Some selection preference is given to local performers, culturally and ethnically diverse performers, and children's music.

Deadline for application for 2025: Applications must be received either via surface mail or land carrier, or electronically (tumbleweedsubmissions@gmail.com) by April 20, 2025.

Set Length: Time slots for live sets are 40 minutes (plus 5 minutes crossover time); virtual sets are 15 - 20 minutes; there will be allowances for slight overage due to length of songs.

Saturday Evening Concert: Headline performers for the evening concert are selected from festival applicants.

Audition recordings: Musicians must provide audio recordings of three to five songs typical of your festival performance (electronic submissions: high-quality .mp3s, .wav., or .aac files; US mail/land carrier: audio CD or thumb drive with those files). Living room productions are fine, or you may send a studio CD identifying typical tracks. Basically, we’re interested in what you sound like in person, as opposed to heavily-produced and augmented. Audition recordings are not required for dance groups or storytellers. Applying for the festival indicates that we may use audio clips from your audition recordings for promotion and publicity. Physical audition recordings (i.e., CDs or thumb drives) are returned to performers after the festival opens.

Reimbursement: Compensation is limited to a travel stipend for out-of-town performers, based on distance traveled, and will not exceed $150 per group (unless we have some very successful fundraising!).

Contract: All performers will enter into a written agreement with the Three Rivers Folklife Society, the sponsoring organization.

Photo/Video Release: If accepted for performance, you agree to allow videos of your performance for the festival to be used by 3RFS for publicity or grant application purposes, including traditional radio, television, and print media as well as clips from your public social medial postings.

I agree to the Tumbleweed Music Festival Performer Policies as listed on this page, by signing below:

Please include a short (2-3 sentence) bio of your group for the program (separate from the full bio requested above):

Performer Application

(Facebook, ReverbNation, Instagram, Twitter) – we’d like to promote your performance.)
(e.g., “Traditional Bluegrass Band”; 32 characters max)
I/we want to perform:
Tech Sheet Confirmation
You can download the Tech Sheet using the button at the bottom of this form. Fill it out and use this File Upload to send it to us. Thanks!

Maximum file size: 268.44MB

Type of Performance

Music and Spoken Word (check predominant type)
Would you like to present a workshop or panel?
Please click this box if you would like to be considered for the free Sunday evening concert with the 2025 theme "[TBA]".
Items being sent (check if yes)

Download Application
Download Tech Sheet
Russell Bartlett
Steve & Kristi Nebel
SeaStar
Jerrry Callahan
Bill Dempsey
Hank and Claire
River Stage 600x350px
Hank Cramer III
Trillium-239
Joe Peters
The Whateverly Brothers
Wes Weddell
Kathy Jonas

Quicklinks

Facebook X-twitter Instagram Threads

Contact Us

© 2024 Tumbleweed Music Festival – Sponsored by Three Rivers Folklife Society & the City of Richland | Co-sponsored by Northwest Public Broadcasting, Battelle Memorial Institute, OneWorld Telecommunications, Tumbleweird, Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Pilgrim Media Services, Print Plus, and Artmil Design.