Ready for a Bigger Stage? This Festival Is Calling for Artists

Every so often, an opportunity crosses the desk that’s worth flagging immediately.

Submissions are now open for the 24th Annual Music Is Art Festival, taking place Saturday, September 12th at Buffalo’s Outer Harbor and Terminal B. After reviewing the details, this is one we’ve intentionally selected for Family 734 artist members to consider.

Why? Because not every festival aligns with developing independent artists. This one does.

For 24 years, Music Is Art has operated as a nonprofit, community-driven celebration of creativity, spotlighting a wide range of genres and artistic disciplines. It’s not a one-stage showcase or a casual park pop-up. It’s a multi-act, multi-stage production with infrastructure, organization, and a built-in audience that shows up expecting discovery.

For artists looking to expand beyond local circuits, this kind of platform matters.

If selected, performers will receive a detailed backline list for their stage, allowing them to plan accordingly. Acceptance comes with a release form, followed by full logistical details including arrival times, parking instructions, and set length. In other words, this is a structured, professionally managed event, not a last-minute scramble.

Acceptance notifications will be sent in July, giving artists several weeks to prepare before the September 12th festival date.

It’s important to be transparent: this is currently an unpaid performance opportunity. Due to the nonprofit nature of the festival and the volume of booked acts, compensation is not provided at this time. That may not align with every artist’s strategy, and that’s fair. But for those focused on reach, experience, and adding a recognized festival credit to their resume, this could be a calculated move.

Festivals like this serve a different purpose than club shows. They place artists in front of new audiences who did not come specifically for them. That environment builds discovery, social proof, and content opportunities that can fuel future bookings and releases.

For Family 734 members who are building outside the 734 and ready to test their set in a broader market, this is the kind of stage worth considering.

Submissions can be made directly through the official application form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf8mLDyVzifd2U-WpxSiZdsrQQtgoQLpTozpixDAweAb9Ylpg/viewform?pli=1

For questions regarding performing at the festival, contact Sara Elizabeth at saraelizabeth@musicisart.org.

We don’t send every opportunity your way. When we highlight something, it’s because we believe it fits artists who are serious about growth. If you’ve been looking for a credible festival credit to add to your story, this is one to review carefully.

Submit professionally and represent the Family well.