Past performers
YouthRock has helped launch a number of very successful bands.
The most famous to have performed at YouthRock is undoubtedly Silverchair, who began their musical career as “The Innocent Criminals” in 1992. Three Newcastle schoolmates – Guitarist/vocalist Daniel Johns, bassist Chris Joannou, drummer Ben Gillies and rhythm guitarist, Tobin Finnane – got together to play covers of old Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple songs. In 1994 they competed in YouthRock, picked up first prize in a band competition conducted by the television show Nomad and the radio station 2JJJ-FM and signed their first record deal. Their albums, “Frogstomp,” “Freak Show” and “Neon Ballroom” (which sold about 700.000 copies in one week!!) have made Silverchair a household name.
In 1996 the group Papa Lips (now known as Grainger) competed in YouthRock. Papa Lips was launched when Balmain High School students Mitch and Kara Grainger met bass player Rowan Lane and drummer Declan Kelly. Inspired by a lively music scene in Balmain, the group developed into one of the most popular independent bands in Australia with their melodic roots-rock style.
They released their debut album “High Time Now” in 1998 and for the next two years toured throughout Australia playing major festivals. Grainger have recently supported Little Feat , Robbin Ford and Eric Johnson and have made international fans like Ben Harper while playing The East Coast Blues and Roots Festival.
Other past YouthRock performers to have achieved notoriety include Alex Lloyd (who began performing with “The Beefs” in Balmain when he was 13), Exploding Daisies (formed at Maroubra High School in 1989, Youth Rock 1991 winners), SPDFGH (who got together at Campbelltown High in Sydney’s West in 1990), Skulker, Jarr’d (from Tamworth High), Shattered Silence (runner up in YouthRock 1995 from Windsor High), Schlauncher (formerly Emulate from Warners Bay High) and Meaneither (YouthRock 1995 winners).
Of more recent times, successes include Morgan Evans (ex Warners Bay High School and winner of YouthRock 2002 with his band Extortion) and now one of the biggest country music artists to emerge from Australian.
Also Haley Warner (ex Lucas Heights Community School and winner of YouthRock 2008 with her band Bleach Academy). Now based out of Los Angeles, Haley has been acclaimed by Billboard magazine as the “Go to songwriter in the USA” with numerous hits for artists such as Katy Perry, Tina Arena, Nickleback, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill to mention but a few.
Other artists to watch out for, The Lazy Eyes, The Moving Stills, Shakamoto, Eddie Benjamin, Abbey Lane, Wild Rocket and Pipoltr
Judges
Former Judges of YouthRock have been from all areas of the Music Industry and have included:
- Jeremy Fabinyi (has managed Mental as Anything, former Managing Director Festival/Mushroom)
- Lindy Morrison (ex “The GoBetweens”)
- Grant Thomas (has managed artists such as Crowded House, Screaming Jets, Divinyls)
- Vicki Bobotis, Tony Bonney, Scott Leighton, Michael Harrison (The Harbour Agency)
- Michael Smith (Drum Media)
- Simon Moor (EMI Music)
- Brent Eccles (“The Angels”)
- Rod Willis (has managed artists such as Cold Chisel and Icehouse)
- John Woodruff (management credits include Savage Garden, The Angels and Baby Animals )
- David Price (Producer/Engineer credits include Screaming Jets, Hoodoo Gurus, InXs etc)
- Sasha Tiller (Sony Music)
- Graham Bidstrup (“GANGgajang”)
- Elizabeth McMartin (Hoodoo Guru’s Management)
- Jaslyn Hall (Triple J)
- Pam Swain (ABC -TV)
- Owen Orford (Trading Post Agency)
- Owen Trembath (Owen Trembath Solicitors)
- Jim Shipstone (former Managing Director – BMG Music)
Prizes
MAJOR PRIZES in the past have included recording time at TRACKDOWN STUDIOS, SOUND LEVEL STUDIOS and ZEN STUDIOS. Equipment prizes from BILLY HYDE DRUMCRAFT, DYNAMIC MUSIC, TURRAMURRA MUSIC, PEAVEY AUSTRALIA, DOWNTOWN MUSIC, JANDS ELECTRONICS, PARRAMATTA MUSIC, legal advice from OWEN TREMBATH and ASSOCIATES, a support with SCREAMING JETS and a gig at the BIG DAY OUT. CHANNEL 10 provide general promotional support.
CD’s from SONY, MUSHROOM, BMG, EMI/VIRGIN and UNIVERSAL MUSIC
Sponsors of YouthRock have include:
Belmore Boys’ High School, Canterbury Bankstown City Council, Arrive alive, Commission for Children and Young People, Jeans West, Dynamic Music, Turramurra Music, Gildan Brands, Downtown Music, Jands, Sound Devices, Allans Music, Trackdown Studios, The Harbour Agency, Sonic Factory, Zen Studios, ozrock.com, Troy Horse, Sound Level Studios, Sony Music, EMI Music, Universal Music, The PA People, Chameleon Touring Systems, Premier Lighting, Advanced Lighting Equipment, Grafton’s Sound & Music, Drum Media, Mark Denning Graphics, Show Technologies, L & W Productions, Shoog Posters, Freestyle Productions, Brett Oaten Solicitors, Lots of Watts, Big Day Out, Festival Studios, Albert Studios, Rondor Music, Velvet Studios, Damien Gerard Studios, Sony Studios, Paradise Studios, Tracking Station, Megaphon Studios, Smithys, Drummers Dream, Main Street Studios, Rancom St Studios, A-Sharp Studios, Sound Heaven Studios, The Grove Studios, Durham Recording Studios, Allen and Heath and Alex Blandino.
Media
Youth Rock has received extensive media coverage including…
Channel 9 “Today”, ABC-TV Recovery, Channel 10 News (2 live to air broadcasts in one week), 2-Day FM, Triple J, Drum Media, On The Street, Sydney Morning Herald, Sun Herald, Telegraph Mirror, Channel 7 News, Education News, SBS’s School Torque, Channel 10’s Mike Gibson Show, Channel 10’s “It Goes”, Channel 10’s “Ridgey Didge” and numerous local newspapers and radio stations.