Canberra Daily 

A brand-new competition is calling on musically inclined public servants to share their skills and battle it out for the top spot in Dept of Rock. Founded by Leanne Thompson, in collaboration with Nigel McRae, co-owner of Smith’s Alternative, the musical showcases will extend over three months and shine a light on the lesser-seen side of our government workers.

 

“It’s not really the first thing you think about when you think of public servants, usually there’s that ‘Oh, they’re very quiet, risk-averse bean counter people,’ not in their spare time out playing rock music, but lots of them are. Lots of them are amazing musicians and very cool and creative,” says Ms Thompson.

 

Coming to Smith’s Alternative in heats from early October, bands will have three songs and a maximum of 15 minutes to impress a panel of judges with their original or cover songs. Expecting a mix of established and new bands, the judging criteria will be based on originality and audience engagement more than technical skill.Aiming to show the creative side of the federal and ACT public service workforce in Canberra, the competition encourages new and established bands to sign up.

 

Ms Thompson says that Canberra is a unique public service town and many employees in the sector have a deep connection to their creative outlets.“I’m hoping it’s going to give some new musicians and bands the opportunity to get up on a stage maybe for the first time in front of a live audience, and just have fun playing music. It’s also an opportunity for musicians that are working in other bands to come together in a new format with their colleagues in the public sector,” she says.

 

With 18 heat spots available, the semi-finalists will head to competitions in November before the finals in early December. The winners will receive a trophy, the right to brag in the office, and prizes (yet to be announced), while the four finalists will all receive a live set recording from Mr McRae and the team at Smith’s. A portion of ticket sales will go back into the community through charities; Ms Thompson is working with Hands Across Canberra to determine the beneficiaries.

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Entries close 15 September. For more, find the Dept of Rock on Facebook.