28/11/2006 - Photo opportunity: Keswick band aims to be online rock idol

A band from Keswick school will be performing online this Thursday (30 November), hoping to walk off with a national Rock Idol title.

The band, called Ionian, was chosen by a panel of judges to go through to the national finals and will be performing in the Crossthwaite Centre at the school at 11am on Thursday.

The event is organised by WMNet and run in Cumbria and Lancashire by CLEO - Cumbria and Lancashire Education Online. A live performance by Ionian, along with nine other bands from across the country will be streamed over the web at www.wmnet.org.uk/go/watch_rockidol or via CLEO's home page at www.cleo.net.uk

They will also be performing in front of a live audience at the school and will be seen on a large screen in Birmingham.

The band is made up of five students from Keswick School - Sophie Wilson on vocals, Mike Riley on bass, Kiefer Mcrickered and Jamie Francis on guitar and Ben Mcartney on drums.

Sophie said: 

"This is a really good opportunity for us. It has been very exciting and a new experience for us all to play on the internet."

Daniella Martin, CLEO Learning Consultant, said:

"I am really impressed by the standard of musicianship shown by all this year's entries. Ionian put on a great performance and produced a very sophisticated piece of music - I am sure they will do well in the national finals."

A national winner will be chosen by a judging panel that includes last year's winners, Silver Penny.

ENDS

You are invited to send a reporter/photographer to Keswick School at 10.45am on Thursday 30 November.

Further information from Alison Lister, media team on 01228 606335

Notes for Editors

CLEO is a collaboration between Cumbria County Council and Lancashire County Council - 'Cumbria and Lancashire Education Online'. CLEO is one of 10 English Regional Broadband Consortia (RBCs). It is working towards providing broadband for all schools across Cumbria and Lancashire and supporting using broadband technology in the classroom.  

WMNet is another of England's ten RBCs. It was established under the UKs national Grid for Learning to enhance the quality of learning for all