Sleeveheads: L-R, Brandon Peckhman, Reid Cooper, Roy Kellaway, Nelson Browne & Wilson Liu. Pic: NT News online.
Nhulunbuy high school band Sleeveheads have won the 2010 Battle of the School Bands Final, held at Nightcliff High School in Darwin, on April 16.
They have won a spot playing at this year’s BASSINTHEGRASS, on the bill with major interstate acts such as Empire Of The Sun, Silverchair, Children Collide, Hilltop Hoods, and local NT superstar, Jessica Mauboy. Sleeveheads are Brandon Peckham (drums), Nelson Browne (bass), Wilson Liu (keyboard), Roy Kellaway (guitar/vocals), and Reid Cooper guitar/vocals).
Hailing from Nhulunbuy (a remote community located on the Gove Peninsula in North East Arnhem Land), Sleeveheads beat 7 other finalists competing in the Top End high school band competition, from an initial field of nineteen. Other finalists included Crassic Park, Skarlett, Farewell Cookie, Bear Essence, Playing In The Dark, Coads and Wind Up Toy.
Launched in early April 2010 by the NT government, the Battle Of the School Bands competition is an initiative set up to provide “an opportunity for students to perform at the Territory’s major concerts”, and for a school to receive mentoring from leading musicians. The competition was open to bands “consisting of three or more middle and senior students from government and non-government schools.” Top End high school bands participated in concert workshops mentored by professional musicians prior to competing.
Central Australia region high school bands will also have a chance to go through a similar process, competing to play at Alice Springs new major music event The Concert, later this year. Visit the Battle Of The School Bands website for more details.
BASSINTHEGRASS is an 11 hour live music event – the Northern Territory’s biggest contemporary music event – held at the Darwin Amphitheatre on May 22nd. Sleeveheads will also be playing alongside fellow NT acts Sweet Amber, Semishigure, Leigh Chisholm and DJ Fish. Read more about the local bands at BITG here.
Big congratulations to Sleeveheads! Read more about their big win at NT News online.
