Music Submission
Three Rivers Arts Festival receives hundreds – literally, hundreds – of band submissions each year.
We accept band submissions year-round and do not work on any particular booking schedule or application process. We typically book our national acts and larger performances first, then fill in available spaces with Pittsburgh-region performers. Booking decisions are made with an eye toward meeting our artistic mission of connecting the community to the arts and an eye toward staying within our budget.
What kinds of bands do you book?
All kinds. We’ve presented everything from string quartets to blues to a cappella to hip hop. Each year, we try to present a diverse selection that appeals to a wide variety of musical tastes. There’s no one kind of band that we are looking for.
That also means that we are not a folk festival, a blues festival, a jazz festival, or any other kind of specific-genre festival. In any given year, we only have space for a few bands from any one genre.
So what can you do to get your band noticed?
First, submit your band here.
Then, go out into the world and be the best band you can be. Develop a strong Pittsburgh fan base. Do something artistically unique. Make friends with other artists. Be nice to other Pittsburgh venues and booking agents (word travels fast). And get out of your basement and play! Concentrate on making fantastic music.
When will I hear from you?
We have a very small staff, so it is difficult for us to respond to every inquiry. Rest assured that if you submitted the form, we did receive your information.
If we are interested in learning more, we will get in touch, likely before the end of April but maybe later. If we are not interested at this time, you probably won’t hear from us. We apologize in advance that we can’t contact everyone.
Repeatedly calling, emailing and otherwise poking Festival staff does not help. (Really. Despite what those marketing books say.) Yelling at us definitely does not help. Please don’t do that.