Band Comp Concludes With A Bang
On a chilly autumn evening, the local community rolled into Bar on the Hill for an epic line-up of student performances. The floorboards buzzed with soundchecks as the audience grabbed drinks and warmed their seats, settling in for a big night of fantastic live entertainment.
Nine judges. Seven finalists. One winner.
The night of Thursday 26 May was a big one for our Band Comp finalists. In the weeks leading up to this event, 36 student bands battled it out to impress the judges and secure a coveted place in the final. From alternative rock to neo-soul, country blues to hip hop - this year's competition saw a rich variety of music genres and over 500 total attendees across the five heats and the semi-final. Fast forward to May 26. The final had arrived for our talented bands.
The night opened with an outstanding rock performance from semi-final winner Osprey, followed by The Pinnies who continued the rock music vibes with their head-banging blues/pub tunes. Piper Rodrigues was up next with her alternative rock and Americana set, finishing with an incredible rendition of Ray Parker Jr's iconic Ghostbusters theme. Pop-rock band Acacia Blue showcased a set of original honeyed songs of empowerment, drawing the audience to the dance floor in no time. The venue was filled with voices as local fans sang along to indie rock band, Cooks & Bakers. Next was Well? who introduced us to the heavy fusion genre of progressive industrial rock with a surreal, innovative performance. Finally, Blind Bistro wrapped up the night with their entertaining set of indie rock songs.
After much deliberation, the judges' scores were collected and counted. The competition for first place was extremely tight with Acacia Blue leading one point ahead of Cooks & Bakers. Third place went to Well? and the Wild-Card prize was awarded to Osprey by the Cambridge Hotel. The winner of the Drop Festival Newcastle 2023 prize is yet to be confirmed. Thanks to our partners, the winners - Acacia Blue - are set to receive:
- A recording Package from Novotone Studios to record a single,
- Paid live sets at the Autonomy Day Party,
- A paid live stream performance,
- And a free Music Industry course and mentoring with Continuous Music.
The Student Central Events team would like to extend a huge thank you to all our student performers, judges, partners, technicians, promoters, and audience members who got involved this year. The University of Newcastle proudly supports our student artists with multiple opportunities to showcase their exceptional skills. But they wouldn’t have the same platform without community support and participation. Again, thank you!
Band Comp Quick Facts:
- 36 acts entered Battle of the Bands 2022
- Over 125 performers, playing 16+ hours of music
- A total audience of 835+ people (across 5 heats, 1 semi-final and 1 final)
- 40+ staff/student, volunteer judges
- 14+ music industry judges
- 5+ music industry partners
Related news
- Launch of the School Students’ Statement on the Right to a Healthy Environment
- Funding boost to technology for lower emission steel
- Newcastle team on mission to improve childhood cancer outcomes
- Shanae’s passion for caring delivers her dream to work in health
- Food and nutrition degree serves Keren a rewarding career
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.