Ganesh Music Contest

A stage for emerging music

The Ganesh Music Contest is one of the most vibrant initiatives dedicated to young musicians from the area of Castel San Pietro Terme, a spa town in the Province of Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna. Born as a space for discussion and growth for emerging bands and artists, the contest offers those taking their first steps in live music the chance to get on a real stage, play in front of an audience, and compete in a friendly yet serious competition.

Who's behind it: the UroBoro association

The event is organized by the social promotion association UroBoro APS, a local organization active in promoting youth culture and independent music. The Ganesh Music Contest is part of a broader program of projects aimed at young people in the Nuovo Circondario Imolese, supported by the Emilia-Romagna Region, and works closely with the Indigest Festival, the independent music festival that the same association organizes in the city during the summer.

How the contest works

The Ganesh contest unfolds over several evenings: some semi-finals where selected bands alternate on stage, and a final that determines the winning group. Performances are usually held at the Youth Center in via Remo Tosi and at the Kiosk in Parco Casatorre, starting in the early evening. The format favors live listening and interaction between musicians, genres, and different audiences: from rock to singer-songwriter, from electronic to more experimental fusions.

The prize: opening the Indigest Festival

For the winning band, the recognition is twofold: a gift voucher to be used at a music store and, above all, the opportunity to open a night of the Indigest Festival, thus giving concrete visibility to their musical project to a wider audience.

Part of the 'Estate Castellana'

The Ganesh Music Contest is one of the events of the 'Estate Castellana', the summer program of the Municipality of Castel San Pietro Terme that enlivens squares, parks, community centers, and outdoor spaces in the city from June to September with concerts, shows, open-air cinema, gastronomic events, and family activities. Admission to the contest is free, in line with the project's aim: to bring audiences closer to emerging music and provide space for local talent.