SHREVEPORT, La. — The Prize Foundation has announced what it calls the strongest lineup in Music Prize history, revealing the 11 finalists who will compete for a $10,000 grand prize at this year’s Prize Fest.

The annual competition, designed to spotlight emerging independent musical talent, will hold its live showcases on October 17 and 18 in downtown Shreveport. More than 1,000 musical acts from across the country submitted recordings of live sets for consideration. The finalists were selected through a combination of online voting and evaluation by a panel of music industry judges.

“We have never seen this level of talent at the Music Prize, and we expect this to be one of the most special boutique music festivals in the country,” said Gregory Kallenberg, founder of Music Prize and Executive Director of the Prize Foundation. “We hope everyone can attend and help rebuild our region back into an indie music capital.”

This year’s finalists include award-winning performers from music hubs like Austin and New Orleans. Big Wy’s Brass Band, winners of the Austin Music Prize award; Lynn Drury, a recent Jazzfest performer; and Ever More Nest, known for performances at the Kennedy Center, will all take the stage. Local acts Bond+ and Slive also made the cut and will represent Northwest Louisiana in the competition.

Each night will feature a live showcase of five to six finalists. Winners will be selected by a panel of industry experts, with awards including a $10,000 grand prize, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. Festival attendees who watch at least three musical acts will be eligible to vote for the Audience Choice award, which includes an additional $1,000 prize.

Running alongside the competition is MPCon, the Music Prize Conference, set for October 18. The event includes listening sessions and roundtable discussions led by industry professionals on topics such as artist development, touring, and publicity. All finalists are required to attend, and their participation in MPCon will influence the final results of the competition.

Music Prize is part of the larger Prize Fest 2025, which will also include Film Prize, Food Prize, Comedy Prize, and more. Organizers expect this year’s festival to draw significant crowds and offer attendees a wide range of experiences featuring creative talent from across the region and beyond.

For more information about Prize Fest or to purchase passes, visit www.prizefest.com