THE Jam Jar, the Coffs Harbour winners of Boom Clash Rockstar Battle of the Bands, are off to Sydney for the NSW final at Paddington RSL on August 13.

They won their Coffs region semi final playing at the Hoey Moey in June.

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“Playing at the Hoey was a great experience not only for us, but the other bands in the competition too,” The Jam Jar drummer Jess Franklin, told News Of The Area.

“It was great being up on stage performing for everyone as well as supporting the other bands in the competition.”

Boom Clash Rockstar Battle of the Bands is a huge band competition where bands battle out to be the best live on stage at local venues and has been a massive learning experience for The Jam Jar.

“Playing within a competitive setting was challenging, especially since we usually play for fun, but this environment allowed each musician to showcase their talent,” said singer Leevon Young, who plays guitar.

“The short time we had for preparation meant cramming our practice into a few weekends and it was tough choosing which songs to perform in the fifteen-minute set.

“Still, everyone enjoyed learning about a new side of the music industry and where it could lead us.”

With the finals little more than five weeks away the band members are feeling suspense build.

“We’re all pretty stoked leading up the finals, a little bit nervous, but mainly excited,” said Aidan Freeman, on bass guitar and backing vocals.

“Such an awesome opportunity to be able to play up on stage with some other sick acts,” he said.

The project is developed by music industry insiders who provide the competing band with mentoring about their music, marketing, digital developments, staging, promotion and production.

Through the whole experience bands gain valuable feedback from judges and audience voting.

They will be guided on growing their profile, building music industry connections and come to understand the realities and challenges they’ll face pursuing their rock-star dreams.

They’re currently jamming every week and occasionally performing too.

“The thrill of winning the semis has inspired us to write at least a couple of new songs and continue refining our setlist for the statewide final featuring some awesome bands,” said Leevon.

“We have just over one month before heading to Sydney, so there is a bit more time to prepare.

“It helps that we’re good friends.”

And that they are.

The Jam Jar has been together for about a year.

“We’ve undergone some changes with members and whatnot, but we’re still just a tight group of mates,” said Aidan.

“For the Battle of the Bands though we employed the help of drummer Jess Franklin who played with us and who we’re taking to Sydney.”

“We’re very excited for the great opportunity for the band to go to Sydney for the finals and play for everyone again,” said Jess.

“I think part of the band’s growth was from adding a new musician not long before the competition and how well the boys welcomed me in, as well as adapting to having a new musician with a different drumming style in the group, which is always a good skill to have.

“I was very fortunate to be offered this opportunity [to be] playing in the competition with the rest of the band and it has been nothing but a fulfilling experience for me.”

The Jam Jar are all local students.

Aidan is from Moonee.

Guitarist and vocalist, Ronin Lane and Jess are from Coffs and Aidan studies at Coffs Harbour Education Campus (CHEC)

Leevon is from Woolgoolga and is at Woolgoolga High School.

Boom Class Rockstar is the project of Brett Pattinson, frontman of ’80s pioneering Australian ska band the Allniters and Grant Hilton whose has broad 40 years in the industry include design, development, merchandising, tour and event management and Sam King who has turned her creative hand to stage and lighting design for Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras organisers among others.

Along with the competing bands, their artistic mates can enter the band-poster exhibition and competition.

Participants are supported by Boom Clash Rockstar partners, headspace and TwentyTen.

By Andrea FERRARI