Tag: Contest

Sixthman Soundcheck – Your Act Could Join the Cayamo 2027 Lineup

Posted on by Editor

Sixthman Soundcheck, presented by BGS, is the chance of a lifetime for emerging artists to introduce to the Cayamo family. We’re looking for 3 awesome, up-and-coming acts to join us on Cayamo! Do you have what it takes? Keep reading to find out how it all works…

Round 1: The Top 10 semi-finalists will be voted on by guests booked on Cayamo, as well as your fans, to determine the Top 5 acts. Voting will be hosted here on this page. Our booked guest votes will be weighted during the first round of decisions, regardless of the overall total number of voters.

Round 2: The Top 5 acts will be narrowed down to 3 Soundcheck winners by our booked guests.

Timeline:

 
Tuesday, July 21st at 11:59pm ET: Artist deadline to complete the submission form.

By Late August: All Semi-finalists chosen by a panel of Cayamo experts at Sixthman as well as BGS, will be notified to move on to the voting round. A public announcement will be coordinated soon thereafter.

By September: 5 finalists, chosen by your fans and our booked guests, will be notified and move to the next round of voting where booked guests will select the final 3 winners.

Friday, September 18th: Final Voting closes at 11:59pm ET

Late September: The 3 Soundcheck winners will be notified and secured on Cayamo. A public announcement will be coordinated soon thereafter.

Curious about the cruise? See our Cayamo 2026 recap on BGS.

The Fine Print:

 
All bands who enter should be available for the week of February 26th – March 5th, 2027. Each Soundcheck winner will perform three (3) 60 – 75 min sets on board the Norwegian Jewel. Set times and location TBD. Each Soundcheck winner will receive stateroom accommodations (up to 2 staterooms) provided with $1500 guarantee payable on board. Travel to and from the Port of Miami NOT included. Festival backline will be provided. More details about production will be sent to Soundcheck winners. All 3 Soundcheck winners will be featured on the Cayamo website and social media. Previous Cayamo soundcheck winners are not eligible to win.

Art courtesy of Cayamo and Sixthman.

Be Part of Our Winter Readers’ Collection

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

What is your family’s version of a “Lime Jell-O Marshmello Cottage Cheese Surprise”? Did you ever sing a song about it? We’re dying to hear about it!

In anticipation of the holiday season, BGS wants to read your food and music stories, writings, and traditions! We welcome fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid-form writing (perhaps a recipe with music?) of up to 1,000 words focusing on the crossroads of food and music. Please ensure that your writing incorporates both of these topics in some small way, not either/or (i.e. not just a recipe).

Selected entries will be published in our new, periodical BGS creative writing collection. See our first scary-season-themed collection and its selections here. Selected writers will receive free BGS merchandise and will be invited to present their work on the BGS website and social media. In addition, BGS will retain no rights to your work and creators are welcome to publish elsewhere or on their own channels.

Submissions will close at 50 entries, so make sure to send in your work ASAP!

Deadline: November 24, 2025 at midnight PDT.
How to submit: Please fill out this Google Form and attach your work as a Word file (.docx).

 

ANNOUNCING: Sixthman Soundcheck – Your Act Could Join the Cayamo 2025 Lineup

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

The 17th Edition of Cayamo’s Journey Through Song – the premier roots music cruise experience – has announced the “second wave” of their 2025 lineup. With it, they’ve also unveiled Sixthman Soundcheck presented by BGS. It’s the chance of a lifetime for 3 awesome acts to join Sixthman and BGS when we set sail on Cayamo from February 28 to March 7, 2025! Do you have what it takes? You can read all the rules and find out how to submit your band, duo, group, or act here. We are so excited to introduce three emerging acts to the Cayamo family.

How it Works

Artists and bands must complete the submission form for Sixthman Soundcheck by June 4 at 11:59PM EDT. By June 14, just ten days later, all Soundcheck semi-finalists will be chosen by a panel of Cayamo experts and will be notified they are moving on to the voting round, Round 1

In Round 1, the Top 10 semi-finalists will be voted on by guests booked on Cayamo, as well as your fans, to determine the Top 5 acts. Voting will take place in July & August and will be hosted here on Cayamo’s Soundcheck page. Booked guest votes will be weighted during the first round decisions, regardless of the overall total number of voters.

In Round 2, the Top 5 acts will be narrowed down to three Soundcheck winners by our booked guests.

You and your band could set sail on Cayamo 2025 and perform alongside Emmylou Harris, Nickel Creek, Grace Potter, and so many more. (Check out the current announced lineup below.)

Experience the magic of Cayamo’s 17th Journey Through Song— a seven-day celebration of musical creativity, collaboration, and discovery sailing February 28 – March 7, 2025, from Miami to St. Croix, USVI and St. John’s, Antigua aboard the beautiful Norwegian Gem.

Prepare to embark on an incredible journey where each day promises an enchanting blend of eclectic performances and unique collaborations in intimate settings, the discovery of emerging talent, and soulful renditions from artists you love like Nickel Creek, Emmylou Harris, Grace Potter, and so many more! The world-class lineup of performers is just the beginning aboard this vibrant floating haven. The guest jams, specially curated activities – like late night karaoke, super jams, live podcast recording sessions, and intimate artist gatherings curated by BGS – and beautiful destinations shared with your fellow music lovers make this trip one not to miss. Experience the raw beauty of music like never before on this unforgettable journey.

Find more information on sailing aboard Cayamo 2025 here and find a contest timeline and all of the rules and guidelines for Sixthman Soundcheck presented by BGS here.

Art courtesy of Cayamo and Sixthman.

GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win a Free Cabin on Cayamo’s 2024 Voyage

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

BGS is so excited to be returning to Cayamo in 2024 to once again set sail with the premier roots music cruise! From March 1 to 8, 2024, Cayamo will set sail from Miami, Florida porting in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Oranjestad, Aruba while the greatest artists and musicians in Americana soundtrack the picturesque voyage.

In partnership with Cayamo and Sixthman, we’re honored to once again be giving away a FREE CABIN to a lucky roots music fan, who will join their fellow roots-music lovers on board the sold-out journey. Enter to win here.

In addition to a complimentary cabin, the winners of this giveaway will enjoy concerts and performances by Lyle Lovett, Lake Street Dive, the Mavericks, Billy Bragg, Rodney Crowell, Shawn Colvin, Lucius, and many, many more. Plus, don’t miss our BGS-hosted events, parties, and shows – to be announced soon!

Enter before December 31, 2023, for your chance to win a free cabin on the 16th edition of Cayamo. Winners chosen before January 31, 2024. Official rules viewable at this link.

Artwork courtesy of Sixthman and Cayamo.