Samhlaiocht Announces Rock For Experience

When Sympathy for the Devil first found the eager ears of young listeners in 1968 it caused a media furore with concerned citizens worried that The Rolling Stones were a corrupt influence on youth.

Nowadays with The Stones music being used to sell insurance on TV, Led Zepplin's music used as the score to a Cadillac commercial and even the iconic image of Jimi Hendrix being used to sell a new health drink called 'Liquid Experience', it's becoming increasingly difficult to find an unsullied rock gig.

Step forward Samhlaiocht's 'Rock for Experience' which will bring a host of unsigned amateur and semi-professional Rock artists from through out Kerry together for one night over Easter, for a rock experience as pure as driven snow.

"Rock For Experience is one of our most popular events," said Jason O' Mahony, "and has proven to be fantastically popular with everyone involved from the young bands that appear on stage, some of them first-time performers, to the audience on the night. It's an amazing feeling to be involved with an event that gives up and coming rock bands an opportunity to shine."

The event provides an opportunity for budding artists to perform in front of an audience using a professional PA system provided by Samhlaiocht. Each group will have a twenty minute slot with the only requirements being that at least one song performed by each group must be an original song written by a member or members of the group. Bands who are interested in taking part must send a recording of their work to Samhlaiocht Rock for Experience Co-Ordinator, Noreen Thompson.

"The level of enthusiasm from the bands is just huge and the level of support they receive from friends and family is equally massive. We were absolutely inundated with applications in 2007 and we're expecting even more this year, so bands should get cracking and get their CD's into me now!" said Noreen with a laugh.

Rock for Experience will take place in Tralee on Sunday, 23rd March, venue and time to be confirmed at a later date. Ten bands are expected to play including local metal favourites 'Trench' and 'Chaos Theory' as well as popular rockers 'Stupid Betty'.

If you would like to take part in Rock for Experience please contact Noreen Thompson or Michele Sheehan for an application form on 066 712 9934 or email noreent@samhlaiocht.com

"It's fantastic that Samhlaiocht organises this event, there's a great buzz, the atmosphere rocks and the venue is always very cool," said Joe O' Brien, father of 'Trench' band member, Shane, speaking at the '07 event which took place at Club Head Bang Bang.

"We've played Rock for Experience every year for the last few years at the various venues. We really like this venue, it’s made for this event & created a great atmosphere," said the band Jesus & the Breadknives about the 2007 event which took place at Club Head Bang Bang.

For more information on Samhlaiocht please log on to http://www.samhlaiocht.com/ For more information on Club Head Bang Bang please log onto http://www.clubheadbangbang.com/