The Chattanooga Music Scene reached into the County Fair to host 24 bands in two days…it was unbelievable! A Big Ole “Thanks” to Bob Payne, venue talent scout, Chattanooga “Live” Music guru and contributor to the Chattanoogan.com Entertainment page.
One of the 24 stage sets was a call back from 2014 Riverbend performance of Rock Skool. It was amazing and yet unclear to me how many kids with instruments crossed in and off of stage during the more than hour performances on the Sunday schedule for the Hamilton County Fair at Chest Frost Park in North Hamilton County.
The threat of rain held off until the last song was played and the kids exited the stage. I will tell you the fans, family and community support was there with smiles, cheers and applause. I noticed that many members from the previous two bands Overland Express and Jimmy Tawater River City Showcase stood back and paused from loading their equipment to see the next generation of Chattanooga “Live” Music performers … no doubt these kids could take a national stage someday.
The musically-empowered young people were led by instructor Mark Ferguson. Mark provided a very impressive and organized group of more than 20 kids playing/singing in multiple sets of bands… playing cover songs from the 70, 80 and 90s. We know as parents, pre-teen and teenagers can easily get bored between school work, house chores, in addition to weekly church and family activities. Music is a universal language, and playing it with a variety of instruments and adding vocals and directions with solid instructions can take young people from a “bored” mode into their creative, artistic and talented side. The photos attempted to capture the commitment between the kids and Rock Skool program.
The set of songs they learned and played was most impressive.
“A Hard Day’s Night” by The Beatles
“TNT” by AC/DC
“Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones
“Iron Man” by Black Sabbath
“Hit Me with Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar
“Godzilla” by Blue Oyster Cult
“Rock You Like a Hurricane” by Scorpions
“School’s Out” by Alice Cooper
“Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin
“Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd
“For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Metallica
“Day Tripper” by The Beatles
"Wild Thing” by The Troggs
“Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
“Rock and Roll All Nite” by Kiss
“Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream
“When I Come Around” by Green Day
“Eruption/You Really Got Me” by Van Halen
“Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne
“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey
“Enter Sandman” by Metallica
“Come Together” by The Beatles
“Yesterday” by The Beatles
“The One I Love” by R.E.M.
“Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
If you have kids who express an interest in playing and singing with a group of their peers, get them involved….. many kids end up playing in youth church groups, small concerts and fun adult supervised socials.
Contact information:
Rock Skool
71 White St
Ft. Oglethorpe, GA
423 240-6827, phone
Mark Ferguson, Instructor
Email address mark@rockskollchattanooga.com
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rock-Skool-Music-Instruction/
Music Instruction/Performance School.4 Kidz! Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Vocals. Ages 7 - 17, Beginner to Advanced. Private Lessons + Group Rehearsals + Live Concerts
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Mark A Herndon, certified professional geologist and professional photographer grew up in Chattanooga area, graduated from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. He is the Entertainment and Chattanooga cityscape photographer affiliated with Chattanoogan.com and contributor to several magazines, venues and Friends of the Festival events. Email at; MAHerndon@ChattanoogaLiveMusic.com