Young bands get helping hand

THE next generation of rockers will take to the next month for a battle of the bands at Volta, with each player aged under twenty-one years old.

About seven bands will compete at the gig called Hootenanny Battle of the Bands which has been coordinated by musician Brodie Glen.

He said the show is about nurturing up-and-coming musicians in their live performances.

“I want to show these guys who are just getting their foot in the door what sort of things people their age are doing and give them something to work towards,” he said.

“To be on a stage at Volta with a big PA and a guy mixing you and asking if you can hear things, that’s next level when it comes to gigs.”

The competition is Glen’s first in what he said could become a recurring event.

“We’re testing the waters and hopefully we’ll run another once it’s warmer. Hopefully, we’ll be able to run these quarterly,” he said.

“I haven’t seen a battle of the bands around in a while so to spend time with some of the younger crowd, they’re asking how do we get a gig?

“This is a way for them to meet other bands. If you hit up a venue for a gig, they want the bill filled.”

Performances will vary between bands and solo acts as well as genres like funk, metal, and rock.

The show is a continuation of Glen’s mission to encourage and develop young Ballarat musicians, which was spearheaded through the launch of his Hootenanny mentor program last year.

The initiative’s 2023 intake saw 10 bands, with one of them, No Clue, to perform at the upcoming competition.

The group’s drummer Nathan Page has been playing music since he was four years old, and said the gig will showcase how the band has grown.

“We’re taking a few songs we’ve learned with Brodie and playing them. We’ve also got an original which we’ll be playing at the Battle of the Bands,” he said.

“Brodie teaches people what it is to be in a band and what skills to work on. I feel like my drumming improves every time I’m with him.”

With the top band receiving $300, each act will be judged by musicians Candi Wade, Justin ‘Hap’ Hayward, and Simon Sharp, with criteria based around stage presence, audience engagement, originality, and musicianship.

Hootenanny Battle of the Bands will take place from 1pm on Sunday 9 July with entry at $5.