The 2024 School of Rock AllStars Tour is really multiple tours in one heady week, July 22-27, all landing at some of the best indie venues in the country, including South Florida’s own Respectable Street in West Palm Beach.
Only one percent of the School of Rock student body — more than 64,000 teen-aged musicians worldwide at over 370 locations — is selected for summer U.S. dates featuring talent from regional cohorts at venues in their geographic areas. The AllStars Team Southeast playing locally showcases School of Rock house bands from Broward, Pompano, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and North and South Palm Beach.
Lindsey Mills, singer-songwriter and bassist for Surfer Blood, is the general manager of School of Rock Boca Raton. “I wish I had a supportive, inclusive environment like the one at School of Rock when I was a young musician,” Mills tells PureHoney. “It gives students of all backgrounds and identities a rare space where they have full permission to chase their creative spark and express themselves.”
To get a taste of what these youthful rock ’n’ roll recruits go through, check out the newly released School of Rock AllStars Tour Documentary about the 2023 tour. “You’re gonna see transformed kids,” Rik Alison, director of Philadelphia’s founding School of Rock Main Line, says in the film. “Playing music together, it’s like a primordial thing and it really breaks down all barriers.”
From thousands of applicants, lineups are selected during a live audition round. Within a few days, student musicians ages 13-17 are hopping on tour buses with their regional bandmates, and choosing, rehearsing and performing beloved rock songs by the likes of The Beatles, Queen, Santana and Tool.
Learning ins and outs of touring — setup, teardown, engaging with venues, supporting fellow bands on bills — is another essential part of the experience. To quote AllStars 2023 performer Liza Lampert, “School of Rock has taught me how to be a kinder, more considerate musician, team member and person.”
School of Rock Allstars play 6pm Friday, July 26 at Respectable Street in West Palm Beach. schoolofrock.com —– GET TICKETS! ~ Carly Cassano
