Best of Rockford Winners Announced

Rockford, Ill. - Each year, On the Waterfront, presented by Associated Bank, showcases local musicians through the “Best of Rockford” competition.  Performers living within a 45-mile radius of Rockford are invited to submit a press kit and CD or tape to the Best of Rockford Selection Committee for a chance to win a timeslot at the On the Waterfront Festival presented by Associated Bank.

This year, the selection committee received over 80 entries from a wide variety of music genres including rock, jazz, blues, country, oldies, folk, ethnic and gospel and those winners will be featured on various stages throughout the 2006 Festival.  This year, two were selected as Platinum Award winners and will receive a preferred time slot at the 2006 Festival. 

The following performers are the winners of the 2006 Best of Rockford Competition:

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On the Waterfront, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) event production corporation that produces Illinois’ largest music festival, On the Waterfront presented by Associated Bank. Awarded the prestigious 2002 Gold Grand Pinnacle Award by the International Festivals and Events Association for excellence in event promotion, the Festival is held annually over Labor Day weekend and attracts over 300,000 people to the streets of the downtown River District in Rockford, Illinois. Each year, On the Waterfront helps over100 local not-for-profit organizations raise funds through the festival.  Since 1986, On the Waterfront, Inc. has helped area organizations raise over $8.3 million.

In addition to the festival, On the Waterfront, Inc. also produces Groove Walk, (May 13, 2006) an annual spring music walk throughout downtown Rockford, OTW Director’s Challenge golf outing (June 26, 2006), and the Stars & Guitars summer concert series (June 23 & 24, and June 30 and July 1, 2006).