The Ballyfermot College of Further Education Rock School students are set to take over the Grand Social this April for their annual end of year gigs. The Rock School BCFE gigs, Magnitunes 2015, are set to take place on three consecutive Tuesdays – 14th, 21st and 28th April.
The Rock School BCFE showcase gigs started in 1989 and since then have been held in venues throughout Dublin including the Baggot Inn, Whelans, The Village and now The Grand Social. The idea is to showcase original Irish songwriters. Artists who have benefited hugely from these gigs include Damien Dempsey, Mundy, Mickey Harte, Wallis Bird, Fiach and many more. The gigs will be filmed to a professional standard, giving each artist promotional footage to help them in their career development.
The gigs also provide an opportunity for students to learn the skills involved in running shows. Students are allocated roles in venue booking, social media, art and design, posters and tickets, equipment hire, van hire, logistics etc., so that a strong team unit is built around the showcases to make them the best that they can be.
Speaking of this year’s events, Niall Ó Ceallacháin, student at BCFE Rock School said: “The artists performing are the best of what Rock School has to offer – second and first year bands feature. Since the course is performance based, the gigs are an integral part of the years assessments and are graded, with the grades going towards the students’ end of year results.”
The Rock School at BCFE is the original and most successful Rock School in Ireland and one of the first of it’s kind in Europe. It’s aim is to prepare musicians for the professional music industry as writers, performers, instrumentalists, arrangers and producers. Niall added: “Dublin is very lucky to have a Rock School like this on its doorstep.” As part of the Rock School course, 2nd year students have a chance to go to Germany for one week to take part in the Mu:Zone festival. Once again as with other years, Irish songwriters from the Rock School were the highlight of the festival in 2015.
With an mini-festival vibe and with music from various genres, Magnitunes 2015 promises to be an eclectic series of gigs with approximately 80 original Irish songs being showcased by original Irish artists over the three nights. Performances will come from Kerencia (14th April), Edelweiss (21st April) and NamaNaya (28th April) among many others.
Magnitunes 2015 is proudly supported by IMRO.
Magnitunes 2015 – Rock School BCFE End of Year Gigs
The Grand Social
14th 21st & 28th April 2015
Doors 7:30pm
Tickets €5 (On the door – €7; Student ID – €5)
www.bcferockschool.ie
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