Saturday, 19 September | Sognage, Strydom Park | Doors open at 14h00 | R150
Ten school bands have made the final. On Saturday, 19 September they play Sognage in Strydom Park, sharing the bill with Hiraeth, Canvyr, and Crash and the Void, three working rock bands off the Gauteng circuit.
For most of these bands, it is the biggest stage they will ever have played. Come and watch them take it.
Now in its second year, Battle of the Bands drew 29 entries. Twenty-two senior bands went for just five places in the senior final. The ten who came through have earned their slot.
Junior Division
- The Cactus Quills St John's Preparatory School
- Fusion St John's Preparatory School
- High Voltage School of Rock
- The Pridwin Rock Band Pridwin Preparatory School
- Strangers Kyalami Preparatory School
Senior Division
- Perennia St David's Marist Inanda
- The Removed St John's College
- Rifftide De La Salle Holy Cross College
- The Treble Makers Kingsmead College
- Wiretap St John's College
Special performances by
Hiraeth | Canvyr | Crash and the Void
Seven industry judges will be watching from the floor. The panel takes in producers, promoters, a live sound engineer, a DJ, working musicians and music teachers, and their feedback is part of what the finalists take home.
- Marty du Plessis musician and music scene content creator
- Michael Bower producer, 5FM
- Alana Britz promoter, Emalyth Events
- Robin Norris sound engineer, As Above Studios
- Marius Schutte music teacher and musician in Crash and the Void
- Catherine Grenfell DJ
- Buhrmann Steenkamp Rockschool South Africa
They are playing for a session at As Above Studios to record their own original track, valued at R5 000, for first prize. Second place takes a voucher for every member covering their next Rockschool examination, book included, valued at approximately R2 500 per member, and third place takes a professional photo shoot from Black Rock Studios. There is a Marshall Music voucher worth R1 500 per member, up to seven members, for the best original track, and a T-shirt from Rockio Clothing for the best marketing, judged on the artwork each band submitted with their entry.
"We're hoping to bridge the gap between school bands and live show performances, giving our future generations of musicians live concert experience," says Jonathan Thorburn, Head of Contemporary Music at St John's College.
Doors open at 14h00 on Saturday, 19 September at Sognage, 304 Tungsten Road, Strydom Park. Tickets are R150 and everyone is welcome, so bring the family and come loud.