Adelaide team invites SA-based teens to one-of-a-kind Rock Camp
Girls Rock! Adelaide have announced applications are open for their now three-year-strong music mentoring program for underrepresented youth.
2021 camper band Kerbside Kicks with their band mentors, Lisa Rashleigh and Bec Stevens. Photo credit: Eve Burner
Local superstars Teenage Joans and now Melbourne-based Bec Stevens are among the many Aussie musos encouraging young people to get involved with the exciting initiative.
“Volunteering with Girls Rock! Adelaide at Rock Camp has been one of the most life changing things I’ve ever done,” says Stevens, “I can’t stress enough how important this organisation is and how much I wish something like this existed when I was growing up.”
Since their inaugural camp in 2019, the Girls Rock! Adelaide team have seen interest in their program grow exponentially.
“We went from 19 campers in 2019 to 40 campers plus a waitlist in 2021,” says co-director Hannah Fairlamb. “Our events and activities, like workshops and fundraisers, usually sell out completely. Plus we’ve received so much enthusiastic support from local creatives, venues and businesses… and parents tell us our camps have been a truly life changing and validating experience for their children. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Rock Camp 2022 is welcoming camper applications from 10-17 year olds girls (cis and trans), gender-diverse youth and trans-masc youth. No music experience necessary!
“We’re making a very deliberate shift in referring to our program as Rock Camp,” says co-director Sianne van Abkoude. “It's the first step in renaming the program and eventually the organisation as a whole. The Girls Rock! brand has an important history, but our programs are not just for girls. We want to find a great new name that reflects that.”
The team of dedicated musicians, educators, academics and creatives behind the camp have spent the last year and a half fundraising and dreaming up ideas to deliver a fresh and exciting experience for participants.
“We can’t wait for campers to see what we’re putting together,” says Sianne. “We already have so many excellent music mentors and role models signed up to inspire the next generation of musicians and industry leaders.”
Rock Camp round three will be held in this year’s July school holidays at Goodwood Community Centre. During the week, campers will form a band, learn an instrument, participate in creative workshops, see live music, and collaborate to produce an original song. They’ll also experience what it’s like to perform live to an audience by finishing the week with a bang at the highly anticipated Rock Camp showcase.
Read more about or apply for Rock Camp here: https://www.girlsrockadelaide.org/program
For high res images, interviews or more information, please contact Sianne van Abkoude | 0437 548 509 | hello@girlsrockadelaide.org