By Esther Lauaki
A band of mates have taken out the Macedon Ranges Battle of the Bands competition with their “neo-indie-rock” sound.
Dr Frisco has made it through to the regional finals later this year after winning the local heats last month in Kyneton.
The band, made up of Oscar Lemaine-Smith, Gus Price, Blake Dickens and James Erickson, all from Braemar College, played four original songs in front of about 150 people to win over the judges.
They met at school and have been rocking out in James’ lounge room for the past 12 months.
“We started last year,” Year 11 lead guitarist Oscar said. “We’re pretty stoked to have won.
“We thought we had a strong chance going in and then we saw everyone up on stage and we knew we were up against some stiff competition.”
It is the second win for Dr Frisco in recent months having also taken home the top prize at a VET music performance competition in Bendigo.
“Personally, I want a career in music and if this works out, that’d be pretty cool,” Oscar said.
Battle of the Bands showcased a diverse range of artists and genres, with performances from Sam Tucker, Tim Allen, Lana Hughes and last year’s Macedon Ranges heat winners, Lazerlips.
Macedon Ranges mayor Jennifer Anderson said the event was a great experience for young people in the shire.
“[It] is a fantastic way for local bands and performers to get their music out to a wider audience,” Cr Anderson said. “Providing opportunities for young people to express themselves, connect socially, and be part of a thriving artistic community is one of council’s key priorities.”
