YouthRock is an inter-highschool band competition, bringing together young musicians from all around NSW, both regional and metro areas. The competition has grown some very successful bands such as Silverchair, who were winners of the band comp early on in the competition’s history. More recently, Bleached Academy (YouthRock 2008 winners), with their frontwoman, Hayley Warner, are a classic example of how instrumental the competition can be as a platform for young and emerging bands. Hayley Warner is also an Australian Idol runner up, and has since performed many concerts and released her debut hit Good Day through Sony-BMG.
Last year’s YouthRock winners, Stolen Memories, now feature as one of NSW’s representatives in NOVA FM’s national band search, I Am With The Band. These guys are now in a major band competition with the expectation that they will head their own marketing campaign, with self-promotion through MySpace, AccessAllAreas.com.au, and airplay on NOVA FM.
While not as intense as NOVA FM’s band comp, YouthRock does feature a very lucrative prize for the competition winners. Valued in the order of $10 000, the prize includes musical equipment, recording studio time, photoshoots, legal advice, video clips, rehearsal studio time, internet site posting and music CDs. To make this all official, the bands will be judged by industry representatives, from Record Companies (eg Sony, EMI, Universal, Festival), Band Management (eg silverchair, Screaming Jets, Crowded house, Savage Garden) and Booking Agents (Harbour and Trading Post) just to name a few.
There are four heats, which will be topped off by a Grand Final. YouthRock coincides with Youth Week, and the Grand Final falls on the last day of Youth Week. So let’s count back from the final:
- Grand Final: Sunday APRIL 18, 3PM-6PM
- Semi-final 4: Saturday APRIL 17, 5PM-9PM
- Semi-final 3: Friday APRIL 16, 7PM-11PM
- Semi-final 2: Thursday APRIL 15, 7PM-11PM
- Semi-final 1: Wednesday APRIL 14, 7-11PM
The venue is Sutherland Entertainment Centre, 30 Eton St, Sutherland.
Tix to go and support your favourite bands are $15, and availble direct through their website, here.
