The Kenmore-based band JAR clinched first place in the final round of the fourth annual Classic Rockathon at Redmond’s Old Fire House (OFH) Teen Center April 30. JAR’s set included vintage hits by The Doors, The Beatles and Neil Young.

Second place went to Gentlemen GaGa, including members from Bellevue and Seattle. Third place winners were Sammamish-based Infinity Undone. Issaquah-based Fit for Hounds took fourth place.

The Rockathon raised a little over $2,200 for educational and recreational programs at the OFH, allowed local teen producers to explore the workings of the music industry and introduced young and up-and-coming talent to music fans of all ages — good stuff all around.

As the Rockathon champions, JAR won 15 hours of recording time in the OFH studio, a Tascam recording studio in a box, a $180 gift certificate from Guitar Center, an $80 gift certificate from Redmond Town Center, $100 gift certificate from Seattle Drum School, three Intune onboard tuners, one Intune acoustic bridge that makes changing strings incredibly fast and a backpack loaded with drum sticks, guitar strings, guitar picks and more.

Each of the other Rockathon finalists also won gift certificates and music gear from sponsors Emerald City Guitars, Donn Bennett Drum Studios, Guitar Center, Seattle Drum School, Pacific Music, Redmond Town Center and EMP/SFM (Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum).

Audience members were eligible to win door prizes such as rock T-shirts and 3-D posters.

More than just a battle of the bands, the Rockathon is meant to be a learning experience for the young producers, as well as the musicians, according to Rockathon producers.

“Being a part of putting on the Classic Rockathon has really been eye opening, as to what it takes to put on a show,” Rockathon producer Shane McLaughlin of Redmond High School remarked. “Putting on a show requires hard work and dedication but it all pays off when you see the smiles on the audience’s and the band’s faces.”

Another Rockathon producer, Nzynga Hendricks of Eastlake High School, said the experience taught her “how to deal with the stress of making an event and about my abilities. At the same time, I feel that I helped open doors for the bands, myself and the Old Fire House — and also found a love for hosting and networking with all the cool people in the business.”

That networking has paid off, too, since one of the Rockathon judges, Kelli Faryar of Northwest Folklife, asked if McLaughlin and Hendricks would host an OFH Music Showcase at Northwest Folklife in Seattle. The showcase will happen at noon, Sunday, May 30 in EMP’s Sky Church and will feature performers from Redmond High School, Evergreen Junior High and Eastlake High.

For more information about the OFH Music Showcase at Northwest Folklife, visit www.nwfolklife.org

For information about the Old Fire House Teen Center, call (425) 556-2370 or visit www.theoldfirehouse.org.