TEEN musicians put on a show at Smythesdale during last month\u2019s Battle of the Bands, staged alongside the town\u2019s country market.<\/p>\n
The overall winner of the competition was secondary school ensemble, Phoenix SKA band.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur band is culmination of funk, rock and jazz all in one, not only due to wide variety of instruments utilised, but also because of the styles these instruments allow us to explore,\u201d said member Sebastian Allen.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt battle of the bands, we performed three of our original songs Friday Night<\/em>, Anything<\/em>, and Big Door, Small House<\/em>. All of these songs have lyrics by Lachlan Olsen, with the music developed by the band as a whole.<\/p>\n \u201cIt felt incredible to perform our pieces to a live audience again, after having done so at school concerts and at a fundraiser for the Lions Club.\u201d<\/p>\n Allen said the band was thrilled to be named the winners of our first Smythesdale Battle of the Bands, and they are eagerly awaiting their half-day recording session prize.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a newly formed band in 2022, it\u2019s been amazing to write music with other incredible young musicians from our school, and to perform with and win against other bands was a great way to celebrate our achievements this year as a group,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are extremely proud of each other, and although some of our founding members will move on next year as they head to university or work, we will continue to create music together and will forever cherish our first victory as one of our proudest achievements.\u201d<\/p>\n The Phoenix students had three competitors, and Smythedale Country Market\u2019s marketing manager Jaymee Ellis said the day had a celebratory and energetic vibe.<\/p>\n