It's tough being in a band when you have to catch the school bus to practice in a top-secret location but the bus ayi won’t let you on.
Then there's homework that has to get done and that assignment that’s long overdue, which means you’ll have to schedule rehearsals another day. There’s also the issue of graduating or having to relocate, making the average lifespan of any school band slightly longer than that of a tsetse fly.
But for one high school band in Guangzhou come April 19, all that hassle might pay off. Four bands will go head to head to be crowned champions of the third ISMAG Battle of the Bands, with a chance to win cool prizes from local music shop China Rhythm.
The contest is being organized by the International Schools Music Association of Guangzhou (ISMAG), the city’s self-formed group of international school music teachers who meet every six to eight weeks to plan events for collaborative music making for all of their students. On this occasion, the organization promises a rocking evening, with a DJ to fill in between performances and an open bar (serving soft drinks, of course) at 191 Space.
Like their schools, the competing bands' styles are all over the map. The young musicians draw from influences as diverse as their nationalities, and the results may well represent the future of music: hardcore lounge, ambient punk and metallic funk. Each band will get 20 minutes on stage – the equivalent of about three to four songs, with one being an original and the rest covers.
Salom, last year’s victor, came from the graduating class at the Clifford School, whose entrant this year, titled Supersized, is keen to bring home the trophy once again.
“The best feeling is getting the responses from the crowd. Seeing them singing your song – that is the biggest high,” says Supersized band member Sean, who wants to pursue a career in music. “By having such a big gathering from international schools around Guangzhou, more people will know about us. There's a lot of talent in all our schools, but they need exposure."
We’re hoping that these bands attract their biggest audience ever. Lucky for them, it's not on a school night.
// The ISMAG Battle of the Bands 2014 will be held April 19 from 4pm onwards. Tickets are RMB50 and can be bought at the door or from music teachers at each participating school. 191 Space, 191 Guangzhou Dadao Zhong Lu (behind the Tong Ren Tang), Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 广州市越秀区广州大道中路191号
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