Started by students in Jazz+ and the Slope Day E-Board, Big Red Battle of the Bands gives student bands at Cornell the opportunity of a lifetime - to perform in front of thousands of their classmates, friends, and supporters at Slope Day, all while opening for some of the biggest names in music. Few ever get the chance to, but for the talented band that conquers the competition to win it all awaits an unforgettable experience. As someone who's been through it before, absolutely nothing can compare to the electric atmosphere that engulfs the entire slope.
Started in 2022 in the wake of the pandemic, the competition started strong, but has grown to be a great force within the Cornell community, as all bands across the campus compete for the student musician’s ultimate prize. Winning bands have had the opportunity to open for artists such as A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Flo Rida, COIN, Snakehips, Coco & Clair Clair, Aminé, Loud Luxury, and Luna Li.
While inherently a competition, as many of my bandmates and competitors have said, Big Red Battle of the Bands is fundamentally a celebration of music in the community, and an opportunity to recognize the incredible accomplishments of other like-minded musicians throughout Cornell. Through the competition, so many bands have had a chance to define their abilities, or to prove themselves as an up and coming force, or to keep pushing their boundaries year after year to achieve the unthinkable. Regardless of the result, bands have and continue to make their mark on the Cornell community through Big Red Battle of the Bands.
In the three years the competition has been going so far, there have been two winners: After Six in 2022 and 2023, and Paragon in 2024. Competition has gotten tighter and tougher over the years, but there's always room for a dark horse to come through and win it all! I already know we're looking forward to an absolutely incredible competition!
Get your bands ready, turn your amps up, and let’s get loud! It’s time for Big Red Battle of the Bands 2025!