The Magnetic Fields’ immortal 69 Love Songs turns 25 this year, and with their year-long tour of the album visiting Merge’s home turf of Durham later this month, we’re inviting you to celebrate with us by entering our 69 Love Songs Indie Rock contest!

What, pray tell, is an Indie Rock? In 1994, The Magnetic Fields played Cat’s Cradle. Before the gig, they hand painted rocks from the Cradle’s driveway and then sold them at the show. Thirty years later, you can join in—and win fabulous prizes—by making an Indie Rock of your own! Head over to the Merge Instagram and let Laura Ballance show you how!

The rules are simple: You can use whatever you want to decorate your Indie Rock (stickers, stick-on letters, paint, whatever your heart desires), just so long as your rock references 69 Love Songs in some way. Post your entries on Instagram or Facebook, tagging us using the hashtag #tmfindierock. Three finalists will be chosen, with the winner to be selected by a dedicated panel of experts—the Merge Indie Rock Judging Committee™.

The fabulous prizes:

Grab your rocks and hustle to the craft store—the Indie Rock contest submission deadline is Friday, May 17, at 11:59pm! The Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs tour hits Durham’s Carolina Theatre May 29–30, Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse June 1–2, and then heads over to Europe and the UK this August. Tickets are available but moving fast!

The original Indie Rock

The Magnetic Fields on tour: 
May 29 Durham, NC – Carolina Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 1)
May 30 Durham, NC – Carolina Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Jun 01 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Jun 02 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Aug 21 Dublin, IE – Vicar St. (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Aug 22 Dublin, IE – Vicar St. (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Aug 24 Edinburgh, UK – The Queen’s Hall (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Aug 25 Edinburgh, UK – The Queen’s Hall (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Aug 28 Manchester, UK – Albert Hall (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Aug 29 Manchester, UK – Albert Hall (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Aug 31 London, UK – Barbican (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Sep 01 London, UK – Barbican (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Sep 04 Barcelona, ES – Paral.lel 62 (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Sep 05 Barcelona, ES – Paral.lel 62 (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Sep 08 Vienna, AT – Volkstheater (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Sep 09 Vienna, AT – Volkstheater (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Sep 11 Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg Hertz (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Sep 12 Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg Hertz (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Sep 14 Stockholm, SE – Nya Cirkus (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Sep 15 Stockholm, SE – Nya Cirkus (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Sep 16 Copenhagen, DK – Bremen Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Sep 17 Copenhagen, DK – Bremen Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Oct 17 Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Oct 18 Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Oct 19 Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Oct 20 Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Oct 22 Austin, TX – The Paramount Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Oct 23 Austin, TX – The Paramount Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Oct 26 Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Oct 27 Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Oct 29 Portland, OR – Revolution Hall (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Oct 30 Portland, OR – Revolution Hall (69 Love Songs Part 2)
Nov 01 Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 1)
Nov 02 Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre (69 Love Songs Part 2)