Her Canberra 

POSTED ON 9 AUGUST, 2024
Hey! Public servants! Leave those lanyards alone!

Billed as a “very Canberra” music event, the Dept of Rock’s 2024 Public Sector Battle of the Bands is back for another year and for those who are about to write policy and then rock, we salute you.

Hosted by Dept of Rock, the local music community that aims to ‘flip the script’ on the notion of ‘boring public servants’, registration for this year’s 2024 Public Sector Battle of the Bands is now open – and you’re invited to register.

Described as a ‘fun and friendly annual Battle of the Bands competition for ACT and Federal Govt Public Sector workers’, the event will run over several shows between October and December at Smith’s Alternative.

Interested? Registrations are now open and will close on 20 September or when the heats are full, so make sure you don’t miss out.

Dept of Rock’s Leanne Thompson – a public servant herself who plays in beloved Canberra band Matriarch – says she’s expecting another “great response” this year.

“Our inaugural competition in 2023 was a huge success – 24 bands played and we sold out seven shows, with volunteers from across the Canberra community sitting on judging panels.”


“The event received lots of positive press across print and radio – and we even had a guitar wielding federal cabinet minister rock up to the final and cheer our bands on.”

“2023 saw all kinds of bands enter the competition – from newly formed to existing ensembles. They came from all over the federal and ACT government sector and entertained us with diverse musical genres including rock, punk, ska, blues, folk, and experimental. Several bands also wove hilarious APS musical satire into their performances.”

THE ESSENTIALS

What: Dept of Rock’s 2024 Public Sector Battle of the Bands
When: Registrations close 20 September. Bouts between October and December
Where: Smith’s Alternative, City
Website: deptofrock.com.au