High School Band Slam returns for 2015

The V&A Waterfront’s annual High School Band Slam competition is back again as 12 schools from around the Cape Peninsula get ready to shine.

Start your weekend off every Friday evening, when three school bands will go neck to neck to compete for the grand title. The finale will see the top three contenders perform on Friday, 13 March. The MC for the evening will be MC’d by popular DJ Danilo Acquisto from Good Hope FM.

This year’s winner will receive a musical consultation and installation to the value of R20 000 from Marshall Music who will set the tone for their school. Marshall Music will send industry professionals to the winning school to assess recommend and install the latest in music technology at the winning school’s music department.

Friday, 20 February

Visitors can chill while they take in the sounds of a hot jazz numbers from Westerford High School’s Big Band resonating from the amphitheatre at 6pm on Friday, 20 February. The Westerford Big Band has performed on numerous occasions at the Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival and at the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival, and has also participated in several Cape Town Eisteddfods where they were named the best High School Jazz Band in 2010.

The Parklands College Band aims to get the crowd grooving from 6.35pm. The band is noted for their unique mixture of jazz and jazz-infused pop.

Settlers High School, whose repertoire ranges from well-known jazz standards, to local and international jazz and pop covers, will perform at 7.10pm. In addition to being involved in nearly all the events on their school calendar, the band regularly performs at private functions, corporate events and music festivals.

Following Settler’s High School is Wynberg Girls High Big Band at 7.45pm. The young ladies formed a band in 2009 and have performed at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre previously. The band performs a mix of swing, rock, funk, Latin jazz, and features different vocalists from the music department.

Rounding off the evening at 8.20pm is Wynberg Boys High School. The Wynberg Big Band, led by Blake Hellaby, will get the evening started with an 18-piece band specialising in classic jazz as well as modern funk and pop.

Friday, 27 February

The contest gears up for the next round of performances when Elsies River High School Band takes to the stage at 6pm on Friday, 27 February. The band, previously known as Elsies River Youth Band, formed six years ago. The band originally began as a community project funded by the Department of Arts and Culture. Well-known musicians Camillo Lombard and Donvino Prins used their vast musical knowledge to nurture the band from very humble beginnings. Currently the band’s collection consists of rhythm, blues and jazz. The Band has been runners-up for the annual High School Jam for the second year in a row.

Next up will be Bergvliet High School performing from 6.40pm. The band was first established in 2011 when a group of students were asked to perform for a local radio station. The duo has since performed at various venues and events around Cape Town.

The night will end on a resounding note with a performance from Edgemead High School at 7.20pm. Headbangers will be delighted by Edgemead High’s heavy metal set. The group was founded by Matthew Murison and Gage Ridley in 2013 and plays a mix of thrash/groove metal fusing different styles to create an innovative metal sound. Bassist Ethan Brummer and rhythm guitarist Cara Golding have recently joined the band.

Friday, 6 March

The competition gets underway again with smooth sounds from San Souci Girls High School, also known as the Jazz Cats, from 6pm on Friday, 6 March. The “Jazz Cats” was founded in 2000 by Graham Coote, and have been fortunate to perform regularly since then. They were participants in the 2011 High School Jam Competition, receiving the runners-up prize in 2012. The Jazz Cats have also made several televised performances.

Somerset College follow at 6.40pm. The band has been producing quality jazz music for almost nine years. Instrumentally it has always been fairly comprehensive and versatile. They are the only jazz band in the Winelands and perform all styles of jazz, including some pop songs with vocals.

The last High School Band Slam of 2015 will draw to a close with a performance from Rustenburg Girls High School at 7.20pm. The Band has developed and grown through regular public performances and master classes from prominent jazz musicians, including Dr Mike Rossi, Gordon Vernick, Nicky Schrire, Lwanda Gogwana and Siya Charles. The Band appears annually at the Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival and at the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival in Grahamstown. It has also been showcased on television.

For four weeks of free, quality live entertainment, get down to the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre and lend your support to talented, upcoming young musicians captivating. Get ready to rock at the High School Band Slam 2015!