Battle of the Bands to benefit Trekkers

Trekkapalooza at The Strand Theatre

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 9:30am

    ROCKLAND — Trekkers 10th annual Trekkapalooza event will be held Friday, March 27 at The Strand Theatre in Rockland.

    This year's Battle of the Bands competition features a Beatles theme, with each band competing to win a cash prize, playing at least one Beatles cover. The winner, chosen by a combination of judges' scores and audience vote, will win the title of "Bus Band 2015."

    The line-up includes three bands that are new to Trekkapalooza.

    Making their debut performance will be Something in the Water, a trio band from Rockland playing funk, alternative, pop and indie music. The band includes Brendan Whittaker on guitar, Chris Carlson on bass, Marcus Carter on drums, and vocals by Annette Young.

    Another first-time Trekkapalooza participant is Galactic Seagull, a band comprised of students from Oceanside High School East, including André Mercier on lead guitar, Zack Bernard as drummer, Max Yankura on bass, Owen Shay as tambourine player, and Reagan Billingsley as lead vocals.

    Also new this year is four-member band Fading Dawn, a rock and roll band consisting of Dylan Hitz (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Alex Winn (lead guitar/backing vocals), Jordan Roubinek (bass/backing vocals/keyboard) and Tyler Bilodeau (drums).

    2013 winner, Just Teachers, a band of educators from the Midcoast that includes Adam Bullard (vocals and the occasional guitar), Matt Smith (vocals, electric, and acoustic guitar), Ian McKenzie (keyboards), Piet Lammert (drums and vocals) and Lucas Benner (bassist), returns. 

    Defend their Trekkapalooza 2014 title is three-person band Hologram, featuring a combination of ukulele, piano, guitar and vocals from Lexi Smith, Fiona Smith and Lyra Kalajian.

    And, rounding out the competition, is Trekkapalooza 2009 participant, J-Dawg and the Hounds, which includes former Oceanside High School teacher and ceramic artist Richard Alfred Johnson, along with Mike Miller, Max Miller, Peter Carriveau, and Michael McGuire.

    Judging this year's competition are Oceanside High School East Principal Renee Thompson, Oceanside High School East teachers Sue Bragg and Ian Carey, and Oceanside High School students Leila Chammas and Jordan Carpenter. The design for this year's poster, program and T-shirt was created by Trekkers student Alayna Joyce.

    This event will start at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 the day of the event.

    Trekkapalooza is a chemical free event for all ages. 

    In the past, Trekkapalooza has sold out, according to a news release. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Trekkers office at 207-594-5095 or ordering online through the "donate here" page link at www.trekkers.org.

    All proceeds from the show will benefit Trekkers, a youth mentoring organization that serves 7th through 12th grade students growing up in the communities of Regional School Unit #13.