Monday, March 23 at 5 p.m. is the deadline to enter the third annual Classic Rockathon at the Old Fire House Teen Center in Redmond.
Musicians between the ages of 13-19 are invited to submit demos of their performances of music written and recorded between 1950-1990. Selected participants will perform live at the Old Fire House and vie for valuable prizes such as musical gear and recording time.
Application packets are available online at www.theoldfirehouse.org or in person at the Old Fire House, 16510 NE 79th St.
This year’s Rockathon is co-produced by seven local young people: Andy Lawrence, who launched the first competition and is now out in the working world; Kelsey Latta, who’s taking classes at Bellevue Community College and Lake Washington Technical College (LWTC); Jessica Campbell, who’ll start at LWTC in the fall; and Redmond High School (RHS) students Maggie Canty, Michael DeYoung, Matt Lytle and Virginia Reinauer.
The RHS students got involved partly to complete Culminating Project requirements. But they also care about keeping the arts alive — and they share some frustration that not all Redmond teens see the brilliance in music created long before they were born.
DeYoung, a former Rockathon contestant, said his RHS classmates haven’t entirely bailed out on classic rock, though interest may have peaked a few years ago, for reasons not quite known.
“Everyone still knows Led Zeppelin,” he noted. “Or at least they wear Led Zeppelin shirts.”
Canty added, “But when you ask them, ‘What’s your favorite Led Zeppelin song?’ they always say, ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ It’s like the only song they know.”
Campbell agreed, “Interest is fading and it’s such a shame. … There is no major icon to compare with Elvis or The Beatles. Who do we have now?”
Canty deadpanned, “Miley Cyrus?”
The students, along with Old Fire House program coordinator Chris Cullen, groaned and laughed.
A lot of preparation goes into the Rockathon. For now, the priority is getting bands to enter. “The last two weeks, there’ll be a huge rush,” Cullen predicted. “Musicians are known to procrastinate.”
The students have taken on most of the work, he pointed out. “I’m just here to help and maybe next year, I’ll pass the torch.”
DeYoung’s been lining up prizes and donations. With the crummy economy, “it’s been hard to get responses,” he said.
But the producers are grateful for sponsors who’ve stayed loyal three years running, including the City of Redmond, Rock School, Guitar Centers in Kirkland and Seattle, Emerald City Guitars, Donn Bennett Drum Studios, Seattle Drum School and Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum.
A new sponsor this year is Redmond Town Center, which will add Rockathon finalists to its popular summer concert series, among other generous contributions, said Cullen.
Latta’s been working on promotions on the Internet and street promotions and trying to get some radio support.
Reinauer has been lining up judges from the professional music community and Campbell is responsible for all the “day of event” details, “coordinating everything that goes on,” Cullen said.
Last year, the Rockathon drew 125-150 fans per night. This year, “we’re aiming for thousands … or millions,” Cullen joked.
“The third year’s the charm,” said Canty.
One obstacle is that people who’ve never come to the Old Fire House for other reasons don’t know what goes on there. There are stereotypes that it’s strictly a venue for alternative music or a hang-out for misfit kids, but the center features educational opportunities for all teens.
Upcoming events, besides the Rockathon, include classes about financial literacy, entrepreneurship and preparing for college.
Semi-finalists for the Rockathon will be announced March 27, semi-final rounds will be April 17 and 18 and the final competition will take place May 8.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/ofhclassicrockathon.
