Battle of the School Bands
Now in its 10th year, battle of the school bands has grown into a comprehensive program with a heavy focus on songwriting and stagecraft.
Last year 64 original songs were performed in the competition and many of those songs went on to be entered in the NT Song of the Year Awards.
Students draw upon their courage, creativity, project management and collaboration skills to take part in the competition, and NT Music School Principal Bill Grose says it’s the camaraderie amongst the musicians when they come together at the final that he loves most about the event.
Grose believes the Battle of the School Bands Final is a great way to promote the talents of Territory students to the world, with many success stories over the past decade.
“Last year the NT Music School webcast of the final had over 1300 viewers from places as far as Italy, Germany, the USA and around Australia,” he says.
“Bands that have come out of the program have gone on to play at One Tropical Day, as well as touring the east coast of Australia.
“The successes continue when students move on and form new bands and develop their acts and song-writing.
"For example, Roy Kellaway from Nhulunbuy is now touring and releasing music with his band Mary Handsome in Brisbane – he was the guitarist from inaugural winning band The Sleeveheads.
“More recent finalists to watch out for include Stevie Jean from Darwin and Juice from Alice Springs, and of course last year’s winning band, Fat Pigeon.”
Battle of the School Band finalists are drawn from the five heats in Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Alice Springs, Palmerston and Darwin, and this year the six best regional acts and six best urban acts will reach the final. A soloist or duo act, as well as a band, will be chosen as the winners, with both given a slot at this year’s BASSINTHEGRASS. A best songwriter will also be chosen and awarded a $500 gift certificate from Top End Music Centre and a D’Ar-cangelo steel string guitar valued at $500.
We know that the music scene in the Territory is booming right now. Get a glimpse of the future at this year’s Battle of the School Bands Final.
FRI 27 APR | 6.30PM | BROWN’S MART | GOLD COIN DONATION | See event listing
