Greenville Country Music Fest Launches 2025 Rising Star Contest

GREENVILLE COUNTRY MUSIC FEST LAUNCHES 2025 RISING STAR CONTEST
Local Bands to Compete for a Chance to Perform Alongside Zach Top, Koe Wetzel, Travis Tritt + More at GVL Fest 2025

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (SEPTEMBER 12, 2025) ━Greenville Country Music Fest (GCMF) is giving local artists the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to share the stages with country music’s biggest names. Today, organizers announced the official launch of the Rising Star Contest fueled by Monster Energy, offering up-and-coming bands and singer-songwriters the chance to perform at this year’s event, set for October 24–25, 2025, at the CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park in Simpsonville, S.C.

The contest invites fans, friends, and neighbors to nominate their favorite local acts for a shot to join a star-studded lineup that already includes Zach Top, Koe Wetzel, Travis Tritt, Muscadine Bloodline, and more. From those nominations, a panel of fest judges will select four finalists to perform live on the GVL Second Stage at Greenville Country Music Fest.

“Greenville has such a rich music scene, and we know the next big thing is right here in our own backyard,” said Bob Durkin, Co-Founder of Southern Entertainment. “The Rising Star Contest gives artists a chance to showcase their talent in front of thousands of fans and truly kickstart their careers.”

The Rising Star Contest kicks off today, September 12, 2025, with nominations open through Friday, September 19. Judges will review the submissions and contact the chosen finalists, who will have 24 hours to confirmtheir participation. Once confirmed, the four finalists will be announced on Monday, September 22, just weeks before they take the stage at GVL Fest 2025.

All four Rising Star finalists will earn a coveted spot on the GVL Second Stage in October. But the journey doesn’t stop there—the artist or band that brings the biggest “boots on the ground” presence, shows the strongest connection with fans, and makes the greatest impact will take home the GVL Golden Plaque. That winner will be honored on the Michelob Ultra Main Stage and awarded the GVL Jackpot, along with an invitation to perform at Greenville Country Music Fest 2026 and a coveted slot at Carolina Country Music Fest 2026 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Eligibility
To enter, bands must:

1. Be nominated by fans, friends, or family on GVL Fest’s official social channels.
2. Complete the submission form with band details, social links, a demo sample, and a promotional photo.
3. Confirm participation within 24 hours of being selected as a finalist.

How to Nominate
Fans can tag their favorite artists in the comments on GVL Fest’s official posts and direct bands to complete the submission form at: https://gvlfest.com/contests/rising-star-search/.

Tickets to Greenville Country Music Fest
Greenville Country Music Fest returns October 24–25, 2025, bringing two nights of unforgettable music and community to Simpsonville, S.C. Tickets are on sale now at www.gvlfest.com, with the next pricing tierkicking in Friday, September 26 at midnight. Stay tuned for updates by following GVL Fest on Instagram and Facebook.

About Greenville Country Music Fest: 
CCNB Heritage Park with TRZ Management is honored to host The Greenville Country Music Fest in South Carolina’s largest outdoor amphitheater. CCNB Heritage Park has been the go-to outdoor concert venue for the Upstate since 2005, and has hosted sold-out shows for Post Malone, Hank Williams Jr, Zac Brown Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cole Swindell and more. Keeping it as local as possible, CCNB proudly utilizes local vendors, catering, food trucks, liquor companies and more.

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