Band spotlights
Carousels and reels on small bands worth your time: what they sound like, where to start, and how to back them. Free, always.
Run by fans · Spotlights are free, always
A union hallfor small bands.
Pop punk · Emo · Alt · Hardcore · Rock
Working for the bands that work the hardest. Any city. Any size.
Every band you love started as four people loading a van in the rain.
Our job
Soundcheck Union is a crew of fans with one job: get small DIY bands in front of more people, and get those people to back them.
We spotlight bands, repost their reels, track fest and showcase deadlines, share what actually works, and keep pointing fans at the merch table. No fees. No paid placements. Spotlights are never for sale.
What we do
Eight jobs. Zero fees.
Reel reposts
Your live clips, music videos and tour vlogs, reshared with full credit so they reach people outside your scene.
Deadline board
Fest, showcase and grant deadlines rounded up and checked against the official pages, so you don't miss the window.
Tips that work
How to email a talent buyer, read a radius clause, set up a show swap, and other things nobody teaches you.
Shirt Swap
Once a month, two featured bands trade shirts and send their fans to each other's merch. How it works.
Buy the merch
Every post ends with a push: buy the record, grab the shirt, go to the show. That's the money that keeps a band on the road.
Credit the crew
Photographers, flyer designers and merch artists get tagged, every time. No photo goes up without permission.
App-Fee Fund
Application fees add up fast. We're building a small fund to help bands cover fest and showcase application fees. It isn't open yet. We'll announce how it works on Instagram first.
Buy the shirt. Buy the record. Go to the show.
Small bands live on merch money. A spotlight is a start. Your purchase is what counts.Now accepting · Free
Submit your band.
Pop punk, emo, alt, hardcore, rock, from anywhere and at any size. Send us an email with the basics. We read every one.
- Band name
- Instagram handle
- Streaming link (Bandcamp, Spotify, etc.)
- Merch link
- City (optional)
- One line about you
Email your band
or write to soundcheckunion@gmail.com
Spotlights are free and never for sale. Sending a submission doesn't guarantee a feature. You can also tag @soundcheckunion on your next post.
Stuck on something? · Free
Need help? We're here.
Merch, finding shows, getting signed, festivals, anything. Whatever you're stuck on, we're willing to help. Just tell us what's going on.
We answer every message personally.
Deadline board
Open calls worth a look.
Fest, showcase and grant openings for small bands. Checked on the official pages on Oct 31, 2026. Terms change, so confirm everything on the official page before you apply.
SXSW 2027
Music Festival · showcasing artist application
- Fest dates
- Mar 15–21, 2027
- Apply by
- Nov 20, 2026
- Fee
- $80
One guaranteed showcase. Invites go out by Dec 18, 2026. Travel and lodging aren't covered. Official page
Treefort 2027
Music Fest · music submissions
- Fest dates
- Mar 31–Apr 4, 2027
- Apply by
- Nov 20, 2026
- Fee
- $20
The portal lists Nov 21, but the fest's own page says Nov 20, so file by the 20th to be safe. 30–40 min sets. Read the radius clause. Official page
Summerfest 2027
Apply to play via Amplead
- Fest dates
- Jun 24–26, Jul 1–3 & Jul 8–10, 2027
- Apply by
- Dec 2, 2026
- Fee
- Free
45–60 min paid sets. No membership needed. Only selected acts hear back, by May 1, 2027. Official page
IAWM Women Who Innovate Grant
$1,000 grant · one award
- Who
- Female or non-binary artists
- Apply by
- Dec 30, 2026
- Fee
- None, no membership needed
For innovative music work; personal album projects count. The work has to be finished by Mar 1, 2027. A woman or non-binary member applies. Official page
Before you hit submit
Read every radius clause, check the set length you'd need to fill, and budget for travel. Bands apply and pay any fee on their own. We just pass the word along. New roundups land in our Deadlines highlight on Instagram.
Monthly feature
The Shirt Swap.
Two bands. Two shirts. Two merch tables that pick up new fans.
- Each month we pair two bands we've featured.
- The bands trade shirts and wear each other's merch in a photo or reel.
- We post the swap and link both merch stores.
- Fans of one band find the other and buy from both.
Want in? Mention “Shirt Swap” when you submit your band.
For photographers & artists
No credit, no post.
The people shooting the shows and drawing the flyers are part of the scene too.
We only use a band photo when the band and the photographer both say yes. Every photo carries a 📸 credit as the first line of the caption, and flyer, cover and merch artists get tagged on anything they made.
Shoot shows, design flyers, make merch or cut videos for small bands? Send us your handle and portfolio so we can credit you properly and point bands your way.
See your work posted without credit? Email us and we'll fix it.
Follow on Instagram
Tag us. We're listening.
@soundcheckunionSpotlights, reel reposts, deadline boards and the Shirt Swap all live on Instagram. Tag @soundcheckunion on your next post or send us a DM.
Open Instagram