School’s Out on the Green will take local teenagers back in time this month, with the twice-yearly event adopting a retro theme.
Called ‘School’s Out! Dine In’, the event will be held on Friday, 18 September on the green outside Bracken Ridge Library, hosted by Bracken Ridge Ward Councillor Sandy Landers and planned by a committee made up of local high school students in Years 10 to 12.
Cr Landers said School’s Out had grown from a small event into something local young people looked forward to twice a year.
“But the real growth has been in the youth organising committee,” she said. “Each new group takes it over completely: the branding, the promotion, the bands they choose, and they put their own stamp on it.
“Because this event is planned by students for students, it reflects what young people actually want from a night out: no entry fee, age-appropriate, alcohol free, supervised and no pressure, just live music and time with friends at the end of a school term.
“Keeping it free was a deliberate decision to make sure that experience is genuinely accessible to the whole community. It is also an event that parents can feel comfortable allowing their teenagers to attend, and many parents make up the crowd and support our young performers as well.”
Cr Landers said performing in front of a live audience offered students an experience that could not be replicated in the classroom.
“It requires confidence, preparation, and the ability to respond to a live crowd, skills that stay with them well beyond the stage,” she said.
She said several young performers who had taken to the School’s Out stage for the first time had continued performing after finishing school.
“Equally rewarding is seeing the students behind the scenes, those managing promotion, stage timing, and band selection, and building genuine event and leadership experience they carry forward as well,” she said.
Students Behind the Retro Theme
For this month’s event, the student committee members, including Sienna, Sam, Theo and Vedant, chose a retro theme.
“We wanted something new, but also one that performers could relate to,” Sienna said. “It’s more stylised than previous themes, which will be easier to identify with. Performers can choose to draw inspiration from the theme however they wish.”
Sam said the event was an opportunity to support local young bands and give them exposure.
Theo described School’s Out as “a relaxed event where not everyone has to perform, but we can all share our love of music with other people our age”, while Vedant added: “As a non-performer, I like going, because it’s a way to have a fun time with friends at the end of term after all exams and assignments are over.”
Follow School’s Out on The Green at Instagram to learn more.
School’s Out on the Green: School’s Out! Dine In
- Friday, 18 September, 5pm-9pm
- Bracken Ridge Library
- Bracken Street and Barrett Street, Bracken Ridge
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