Girls Rock Dublin held their first week-long camp recently and have sent us on a brief diary along with recordings of the campers new music.

“Just Five Days: What Happens At A Rock Camp

Day 1: On Tuesday morning 15 brave campers walked cautiously into the unknown! As campers & volunteers settled in, we launched the camp for real. Ice officially broken, instrument coaches & campers were straight into the Instrument Carousel (where campers get to try every instrument; maybe you thought you'd play guitar or sing; but who knew a bass felt so right and sounded so cool?!). It's not easy to play an instrument you've never held before in front of a room of strangers, but our gang gave it socks. By the end of the 1st busy day, and with instruments selected, the band coaches and team consulted to divide the newbies into bands.

And thus was born:

Bright Yellow Trashcan

Low Key Breakfast

Not Much

Days 2, 3, 4: Then followed much work, fun and plenty of blood (tea), sweat (biscuits) and laughter (further biscuits). Instrument coaching, workshops, band practice & repeat. And what better way to divide the hectic day than with a lunchtime performance by Saint Sister, Elaine Mai, Girlfriend & Loah? After each intimate gig campers got to ask the artists questions about life, music & everything in between. Like how cool is that? Hearing first hand from artists who know what it's like to struggle through & find your path in music. On top of that were the Love Bombs, the zine-making (if you thought you were punk, think again..), the badge machine (“you can never have enough band badges” – Oscar Wilde) & the GRD camp song (an anthem to chant our energy & unite in lyrics!).

Day 5: And it all ends WITH A BANG. We capped off the week with a LOUD AND LOVELY end-of-camp gig. Friends and family were invited for a private show to watch their budding rockers perform their first show as a band. THEIR FIRST GIG! Such energy and pure raw passion. Listen to their songs recorded earlier that day.

IN JUST FIVE DAYS!

It's not much :) But with such an incredibly positive, willing & open minded bunch it's amazing what you can achieve. It is testament to the hard work and commitment, and amazing support of our Girls Rock Dublin friends that this camp happened and was such a success.  

Thank you!

Girls Rock Dublin”

Girls Rock Dublin are launching a two week crowdfunding campaign to help fund scholarships for campers at this year's summer camp. Having already funded two scholarships, GRD want to bring that figure to ten in order to support applicants from socially marginalised groups such as people from low-income backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, asylum seekers, refugees and people with a disability.

Running this Summer from July 3-7, the rock camp provides a positive, non-competitive environment where 20 campers, aged 12-17, will learn to express themselves through a unique programme that combines music tuition, collaborative workshops and a refreshing DIY spirit. The 2018 camp will be a five day long event of music and creative exploration. Campers get to form a band, write a song, learn how to play it and ultimately perform on a stage in front of friends and family. Yes, all in one week! Musical experience is not required.

The five day event will be hosted in premium Dublin music facilities Sound Training College and Temple Lane Studios, and will be run by an all-woman team of coaches and volunteers including musicians active in the local independent music scene including MayKay (Le Galaxie), Saint Sister, Elaine Mai, Naoise Roo, Maija Sofia, Cathy Ahearne (Elm, Fierce Mild), Naomi Macleod (ex Bitch Falcon) and more.

Make a donation if you can, and help GRD make a difference!

Girls Rock Dublin is a non-profit and volunteer led organisation that runs camps and events aimed at growing girls and women's self-esteem through music creation and performance.GRD are part of a global movement (Girls Rock Camp) that brings this type of camps in more than 100 cities around the world. Music is the means through which the movement seeks to create a positive impact at both a personal and community level.