WALTONS SUPPORTING YOUNG BANDS IN RTE 2fm’S SCHOOL OF ROCK COMPETITION

WALTONS SUPPORTING YOUNG BANDS IN RTE 2fm’S SCHOOL OF ROCK COMPETITION

€7,000 WORTH OF PRIZES FROM WALTONS TO BE WON!
FIRST PRIZE OF €5,000 GIFT VOUCHER FOR WALTONS MUSIC SHOPS
FOUR €500 GIFT VOUCHER RUNNER-UP PRIZES.

RTÉ 2fm’s School of Rock is inviting bands to send in demos for consideration. Five bands will be chosen to compete at five regional heats.The judges will then choose one band from each heat to go forward to the final.

The School of Rock judges for the regional heats include; Cormac Battle of RTÉ 2fm, Ken Allen of Faction Records and musician Mark Greaney of Concerto for Constantine (formerly of JJ72). For the live final, the panel will be expanded to include Chairperson Larry Gogan, Stuart Clark of Hot Press, Noel Mc Hale from MCD, Emma Harney of Entertainment Architects, a representative from Walton’s music and Tony Perry, Director of Pulse Recording Studios.

Speaking at the launch Cormac Battle said:

“It gives me great pleasure to be a School of Rock in this competition because I have been one of those soldiers trying to get on the first rung of the ladder and it ain’t easy. So to see some bands going for it will be great and as it’s a top competition they will be firing on all cylinders….may the best band win”

Mark Greaney agreed:

“I was extremely fortunate when someone from a large label signed the band I was in while I was still in school, but I know that that was an exception to the norm. That’s’ why, I am delighted to have the opportunity to take part in something which will hopefully change the norm, to make it easier for young inventiveness and flair to grow in the light. I’ve experienced some amazing things since my first steps into the world of rock, and I hope we can, at the very least, set a young band on a path to similar experiences. Let the eavesdropping on hidden genius commence!”

The winner of the RTÉ 2fm School of Rock will win:

- €5,000 gift voucher for Walton’s Music Shops

- 5 days recording time in Pulse Recording Studios Dublin’s most internationally renowned recording studio.

- An interview with Hot Press magazine

- A support slot at an upcoming MCD music event

- A photo shoot with music photographer Enda Casey

- A Pure Marshall DAB Digital radio for each band member

- An award for their school

In addition to this, the four runner-up bands at the live final will receive a €500 voucher for Walton’s Music Shops.

‘Waltons Music is delighted to join RTÉ 2fm in supporting young Irish talent’, says Niall Walton, Managing Director of the company. ‘We’re especially happy to encourage the development of bands, clubs and music education programmes in Irish schools.’

All the regional heats are All-Ages gigs and tickets are available for free from the RTÉ 2fm website. A special guest from previous RTÉ 2fm 2moro 2ours will perform at each of the regional heats while the judges are adjudicating. The final will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2fm at 8pm on 5 April with presenters Ruth Scott and Dan Hegarty

The dates of the regional heats and the special guests announced are as follows:

1) Sunday 9th March: Dublin regional final in The Village, Dublin from 1-4pm with special guests Concerto for Constantine

2) Saturday 15th March: Munster regional final- Cyprus Avenue, Cork from 3-7pm with special guest The Anybodies

3) Saturday 22nd March: Connacht regional final: Roisin Dubh, Galway from 3-7pm with special guests Giveamanakick

4) Saturday 29th March: Leinster regional final: The Stables, Mullingar from 3-7pm with special guests The Flaws

5) Saturday 5th April: Live final from Studio 1- Broadcast live RTÉ 2fm with special guests Messiah J and The Expert.

The closing date for applications is Monday 25 February. Application forms and the full list of rules and regulations are available on the RTÉ 2fm website

http://www.rte.ie/2fm/story/1185345.html