The Pocket Challenge is a music performance contest presented by Yurt Rock and Wheelhouse Beats. We’re looking for musicians who can play in the pocket — meaning with great time, feel, and musicality. This is not about technical chops or flashy technique. It’s about groove.

Contestants record themselves playing along to a track in the Wheelhouse Beats app and submit their video for a chance to win over $10,000 in prizes, including guitars, backpacks, software, and a private lesson with Charlie Hunter.

Playing “in the pocket” means locking in with the groove — your timing is tight, your feel is natural, and your playing makes people want to nod their heads. It’s that intangible quality that separates musicians who sound good from musicians who feel good to listen to.

Our judges — Charlie Hunter, Brad Wilk, Larry Goldings, and Tim Lefebvre — have all spent careers playing with some of the best artists in the world. They know the pocket when they hear it.

The Pocket Challenge is presented by Yurt Rock (a home for musicians, offering 235+ loop and sample products) and Wheelhouse Beats (a practice app built around real drummer recordings). Yurt Rock is operated by Gruss Productions LLC and Wheelhouse Beats is operated by Ben Singer.

Prize sponsors include Heritage Guitars, Harmony Guitars, MONO Cases, and XLN Audio.

The contest is open to anyone aged 13 or older, worldwide. There are no geographic restrictions, except where prohibited by local law.

If you are between 13 and 17 years old, you must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to enter and to receive any prize.

Employees and immediate family members of Gruss Productions LLC, Yurt Rock, Wheelhouse Beats, and prize sponsor companies are not eligible to enter.

Yes — the contest is open internationally. Musicians from anywhere in the world are welcome to enter. Physical prizes (guitars, backpacks) will be shipped internationally by the respective manufacturers at no cost to the winner.

All instruments are welcome — guitar, bass, drums, keys, vocals, horns, strings, and anything else you play. The contest is about feel and groove, not instrument type. If you can play in the pocket, you’re eligible.

Entering is straightforward:

1. Download the Wheelhouse Beats app (available on the App Store and Google Play).
2. Record yourself playing along to any track in the app. Your video must be 60 seconds or less.
3. Post the video publicly on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or Twitch using the hashtag #pocketchallenge.
4. Submit the URL of your posted video using the entry form on the contest landing page.

That’s it. No purchase required.

No purchase is necessary to enter or win. Wheelhouse Beats offers a free trial so you can access tracks and record your entry without paying. Check the App Store or Google Play for current free trial availability.

Yes — there is no limit on the number of entries per person, as long as each entry features a unique, original video. You cannot submit the same video multiple times. Each submission must be a new performance.

You can post your entry video on any of the following platforms:

• YouTube
• TikTok
• Instagram (Feed, Reels, or Stories — must be set to public)
• Twitch

Make sure your post is set to public so it can be viewed and voted on. Include #pocketchallenge in the caption or description.

All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM Central Time on July 1, 2026. Entries received after this deadline will not be considered.

Your performance must be played along to a track from the Wheelhouse Beats app. You can record audio from the app playing in the background. Additional layers, overdubs, or production are allowed as long as your live performance is clearly featured in the video.

Do not use copyrighted music from other sources in your submission, as this may cause your video to be removed from social platforms.

The contest has two phases:

1. Public voting: After the submission deadline, all eligible entries will be open for public voting. The 10 entries with the most votes advance to the finalist round. Sharing your entry and rallying your supporters is encouraged — you can also earn bonus entries by referring friends.
2. Judge selection: Starting July 1, 2026, our panel of four judges reviews the 10 finalists and selects the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. The public vote has no bearing on the final placements — only the judges’ assessment matters at this stage.

• Charlie Hunter — Guitar & Bass (Solo Artist, D’Angelo, Frank Ocean)
• Brad Wilk — Drums (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, Black Sabbath)
• Larry Goldings — Keys (Solo Artist, John Mayer, James Taylor)
• Tim Lefebvre — Bass (David Bowie, The Black Crowes, Tedeschi Trucks Band)

Judges will evaluate entries equally on three criteria:

• Time: How tight and consistent is your rhythmic feel with the groove track?
• Feel: Does your playing groove? Does it make people move?
• Musicality: Do you show taste, tone, and musical expression — serving the music rather than showing off?

Yes, you can vote for your own entry. You are also encouraged to share your entry and ask your network to vote for you. However, automated, bot-generated, or programmatic voting is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification.

Winners will be announced on or around July 8, 2026. The announcement will be made on the contest landing page and via Yurt Rock and Wheelhouse Beats social channels.

1st Place (~$5,000 ARV):

• Heritage Standard II Collection H-150 Guitar with Case
• MONO Classic FlyBy Ultra Backpack
• Yurt Rock Ultimate Bundle (235+ products, 500GB+)
• XLN Audio Suite (Addictive Drums 2, RC-20 Retro Color, XO & more)
• Private lesson with Charlie Hunter

2nd Place (~$3,000 ARV):

• Harmony Standard Series Juno Electric Guitar w/Case
• MONO Classic FlyBy Backpack
• Yurt Rock Artist Series Bundle
• XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2

3rd Place (~$2,000 ARV):

• Heritage Ascent+ Collection H-150 Guitar
• MONO Stealth Alias Backpack
• Yurt Rock Producer Pack
• XLN Audio RC-20 Retro Color

Physical prizes (guitars and backpacks) will be shipped directly by their respective manufacturers — Heritage Guitars, Harmony Guitars, and MONO Cases — at no shipping cost to the winner.

Digital prizes (Yurt Rock bundles and XLN Audio software) will be delivered via email within seven (7) days of the winner announcement on July 8, 2026.

No. Prizes are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and have no cash value. No substitution of prizes is permitted except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor.

Yes. Winners are solely responsible for all applicable federal, state, local, and international taxes on prizes received. We recommend consulting a tax professional if you have questions about your specific situation.

Wheelhouse Beats is a practice app built around real drummer recordings — not a metronome or click track. The idea is that playing along with a real human drummer helps you develop genuine groove and feel that you can’t get from synthetic timekeeping tools.

The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It was developed by Ben Singer in collaboration with Charlie Hunter.

No — you can use any track available in the Wheelhouse Beats app for your submission. Pick one that fits your instrument, skill level, and playing style. There is no requirement to use a specific track or genre.

You can record your video using any camera or device. A simple setup works great — many winning contest entries are filmed on a phone. Play the Wheelhouse Beats app through a speaker or headphones and record yourself performing along to it. Make sure your instrument is clearly audible in the recording.

Keep the video to 60 seconds or less.

You retain ownership of your submitted video. By entering, you grant Gruss Productions LLC a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use your video and username to promote the contest and the Sponsor’s products and services. See the Official Rules for full details.

To avoid copyright claims, make sure you are only using audio from the Wheelhouse Beats app in your submission. Avoid adding copyrighted background music from other sources. If your video is removed by a platform due to a copyright claim before the entry deadline, you may repost a corrected version and resubmit the new URL using the entry form.

Gruss Productions LLC is not responsible for content moderation decisions made by third-party platforms.

No. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or Twitch. These platforms are simply the channels through which entries are posted publicly. Any questions about the contest should be directed to support@yurtrock.com, not to these platforms.