Young band is playing (and singing) to win

BY ALEX SINNOTT. Warrnambool Standard June 6th, 2009 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2009.  All rights reserved

THREE young musicians are calling on the south-west to help them across the line in their bid to become Australia's Best School Band. Woodford Primary School pupils Ebony McCosh and brothers Blake and Will Brugman are in the running to win $6000 for their school as part of the Ashton Music competition. The trio's single So Blind has gained national attention since their band, Red Rockers, entered the competition. An accompanying video clip in which they feature has been watched by thousands on the internet. Ebony said she was surprised how much popular support had been garnered since the band entered the competition five weeks ago. "We read about Australia's Best School Band in a music magazine and thought we should give it a go," the band's 11-year-old singer said. "Singing comes naturally to me I suppose. "I try to practice every weekend and we've played at Sunday markets and the Mortlake Festival but we've never had this many people hear our music." The Red Rockers are currently positioned fourth in the Australia-wide competition and are the highest-placed primary school group. The winning band's school receives $6000 worth of music equipment and a guest appearance by pop singer and former Australian Idol contestant Jessica Mauboy. Blake, who wrote the band's catchy single, said the group and their supporters had posted hundreds of flyers across Warrnambool to galvanise locals into voting for the Red Rockers. "I wrote the song about a girl who loves a boy but he doesn't even know she existed," he said.  "I've heard kids walking down the corridor at school singing (my song). "I didn't think when I wrote it that people would like it so much." To help in the Red Rockers quest to become Australia's Best School Band, log on to www.ashtonmusic.com.au and cast your vote. The competition closes next Friday.