Rumble on the Rocks
MAY 30 BANDS: Slow Gin Buck Knawe & The Quick Draw Zillafyde Sweet Pea & The Pods High Street Jack West Fork Revival
JUNE 6 BANDS: Honey White Benegebreakers Knollwood Kings Sustayn 46 Drifters Sara Barton and 2 nd That
~ story and photo by Mandi Rainwater JUNE 13 FINALS
Something new is coming to Hard Truth Distilling Co. this year— and the stakes are high. The Brown County Music Association( BCMA) and Rainwater Studios are hosting the inaugural Rumble on the Rocks band competition at Hard Truth’ s“ On the Rocks” stage to select the featured bands for this year’ s Amplify Nashville concert.
Twelve bands have been selected to participate in the event, where they’ ll perform for a live audience. First place takes home $ 2,500, while second place winner gets $ 1,500. Both bands will feature in Amplify Nashville at the Brown County Music Center on November 7, opening for Reverend Peyton’ s Big Damn Band.
Round One takes place on May 30 and June 6 from 6 to 9 p. m. On each of these nights, six bands will compete. Two bands from each evening move on to the finals on June 13, where just four bands vie for the prizes.
The audience votes determine who wins. The first two shows are free admission. Guests can purchase a ballot for $ 10 to cast their vote for the winning bands.
Guests must vote for two different bands, or their ballots will be discarded. This encourages attendees to vote not only for the band that they came to support, but also for a new discovery.
The finals on June 13 are ticketed. Guests must pay $ 10 to attend, but this includes a ballot for every fan. For the finals, winners will be evaluated through a combination of fan votes and judges’ scores.
At the end of the night, the votes are counted, and the two advancing bands will be announced from the stage. But competing in Rumble on the Rocks is about more than just the prize package. For many, it’ s a stepping stone— an opportunity to refine their craft, test their stage presence, and connect with a broader audience.
The Brown County Playhouse provided the location for the competition in previous years. This year, Hard Truth Distilling Co. joins the ranks of local music venues providing a step up to the big stage in Brown County. •
24 Our Brown County May / June 2026