Logo for Doc Stinson's Opening Act Contest at the Northwest Tune Up blues and music festival, featuring a red flame and black silhouette of a hand making a rock gesture.
ENTER NOW

One stage. One spotlight. One breakout ARTIST.

A live music concert with a band on stage illuminated by colorful purple, orange, and pink lights, and a large crowd of attendees watching.

WASHINGTON MUSICIANS, THIS IS YOUR CASTING CALL.

Doc Swinson’s and Northwest Tune-Up are teaming up to give one rising musician or band the kind of opportunity you can’t buy: the opening slot on the Main Stage at Northwest Tune-Up 2026.

A band performing on an outdoor stage at night, with blue and white stage lights and smoke effects, and a large audience in front of the stage.

Tune Up Your Curiosity

Northwest Tune-Up has always been about discovering fun: on bikes, in community and on stage.

Doc Swinson’s shares the same spirit of discovery on our curious quest for new blends and new flavors.

Together, we’ve created The Opening Act Contest to elevate emerging Washington musicians, create real performance opportunities, and connect community through live music.

This is how Opening Acts become Headliners.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All submissions will be reviewed by the Northwest Tune-Up Music Director.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY:

  • Have 20–30 minutes of original material to perform

  • Complete the full entry form below by February 13th, 2026

  • Have least one member who resides in Washington State, and all performers are 21+

  • Be available to perform live in Bellingham, WA on the required dates

  • Perform with your own instruments and gear

  • Be willing to help spread the word about the contest and promote your performances

  • Submit video(s) performing original material. Video submissions must be hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or another openly accessible streaming site.

  • Review the full Official Rules here

CONTEST TIMELINE:

  • 2/16/26: Ten (10) Semifinalists Announced — Showcased on Doc Swinson’s and Northwest Tune-Up social channels for fans to voice their support for their favorites.

  • 2/22/26: Five (5) Finalists Announced — Finalists take the stage on March 5 for a live showcase at the iconic Wild Buffalo House of Music in Bellingham. A panel of judges will select the winner, with crowd energy counting towards the decision. Entry is free, and all attendees will have a chance to win VIP tickets to Northwest Tune-Up 2026.

  • 3/5/26: One (1) Winner Announced — At the live showcase event at the Wild Buffalo. The winner will go on to perform two paid events: a private show at the Doc Swinson’s Barrel Lab in Ferndale, WA (Spring 2026 date TBD) and the opening slot on the Main Stage at Northwest Tune-Up (July 10, 2026).

Black downward arrow with a sketchy, rough outline on a black background.

SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO. RALLY YOUR PEOPLE. BRING IT LIVE.

Ready to take the Main Stage?

Logo for Doc Stinson's Opening Act Contest, featuring a red flame and a black rock hand salute, with the text 'Northwest Tuneup Build & Music Festival' at the bottom.

OFFICIAL RULES

1. Sponsor

The Doc Swinson’s Open Act Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by Distillers Way, LLC, doing business as Doc Swinson’s (“Sponsor”). Sponsor’s principal place of business is Washington State.

This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with any social media platform.

2. Eligibility

The Contest is open only to legal residents of the State of Washington who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older at the time of entry.

All members of a band entry must meet the eligibility requirements. Employees, officers, directors, agents, and immediate family members of Sponsor and its affiliates are not eligible to enter.

Void outside the State of Washington and where prohibited by law.

3. Contest Period

The Contest begins on February 2, 2026 at 9a Pacific Time and ends on February 16, 2026 at 5p Pacific Time (the “Contest Period”).

4. How to Enter

To enter the Contest, eligible bands must submit one (1) video entry during the Contest Period via https://www.docswhiskey.com/nw-tune-up-opening-act, including:

A video performance by the band (original or cover material permitted); and

All required entry information as specified on the entry page.

Limit one (1) entry per band. Multiple submissions by the same band may result in disqualification.

No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase chances of winning.

5. Judged Contest – Band Performance Winner

One (1) band will be selected as the Band Performance Winner based on a judging process, not by chance.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be evaluated by Sponsor or its designated judges using the following criteria:

Musical performance quality

Originality and creativity

Stage presence and overall impact

Alignment with the Doc Swinson’s brand and the Northwest Tune-Up brand

Judging will be conducted in Sponsor’s sole discretion. All judging decisions are final and binding.

6. Secondary Prize Drawing (Non-Selected Entrants)

All eligible entries not selected as the Band Performance Winner will automatically be entered into a random drawing for a separate prize (the “Secondary Prize”).

The Secondary Prize winner will be selected by random drawing from among eligible non-winning entries. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received.

7. Prizes

Band Performance Winner Prize:

Prize consists solely of a performance opportunity and has no cash or retail value.

Secondary Prize:

VIP Ticket Package (5 tickets) to Northwest Tune-Up 2026, with an ARV of $1,000.

No prize includes alcoholic beverages. Prizes are non-transferable and no substitution is permitted except at Sponsor’s discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if necessary.

Winners are responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

8. Winner Notification

Potential winners will be notified using the contact information provided at entry. If a potential winner does not respond within 48 hours of notification, is found to be ineligible, or fails to execute required documentation, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner may be selected.

9. Rights Granted by Entrants

By submitting an entry, each entrant grants Sponsor a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license to use, reproduce, edit, publish, distribute, and display the submitted video, band name, and related materials for promotional, marketing, and advertising purposes in any media, without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.

Entrants represent and warrant that they own or have secured all necessary rights to the submitted content and that the entry does not infringe upon the rights of any third party.

10. Publicity Release

By accepting a prize, winners consent to the use of their name, likeness, band name, biographical information, and submitted entry for advertising and promotional purposes by Sponsor without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.

11. Limitation of Liability

Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, misdirected, or technically corrupted entries; or for any technical failures of any kind.

By participating, entrants agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor and its affiliates from any liability arising from participation in the Contest or acceptance, use, or misuse of any prize.

12. Alcohol Disclaimer

This Contest is intended only for individuals of legal drinking age. No alcohol purchase is required to enter or win, and no prize includes alcoholic beverages. Sponsor encourages responsible consumption of alcohol.

13. Governing Law and Disputes

This Contest is governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any disputes arising from this Contest shall be resolved exclusively in the state or fEderal courts located within the State of Washington.

14. Privacy

Information collected from entrants is subject to Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, available at: https://www.docswhiskey.com/privacy-policy.

15. Sponsor Contact

Questions regarding the Contest may be directed to: hello@docswhiskey.com