NEWS

Three talented bands from Imagine Music’s Rock Academy will take the stage at Harvest Moon Celebration this Saturday, Sept. 21, at 12 p.m.

The bands – Just Jorts, Pixie Dust, and Dog Eat World – are set to perform a mix of 80s, 90s, and contemporary covers, said Ben Gabrielsen, director of Rock Academy.

Rock Academy bands set to perform at Harvest Moon Celebration on Saturday. Photos courtesy of Imagine Music

The young musicians are students at Imagine Music, a local studio celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The school’s Rock Academy program was formed in response to a student’s desire for a bigger goal.

Musician and school owner David Owen, who still teaches lessons, said when they realized that students wanted a place to perform, they put bands together and sought out performance opportunities to enhance the experience from just lessons to being a part of something bigger.

Harvest Moon has been a space for student bands and solo acts to perform for the last eight or nine years. They also perform at community events such as Oasis Community Gardens for the Junior League of Ogden, Eden Balloon Festival, Ogden Amphitheater, and Ogden Raptors games.

Every spring the Rock Academy hosts a live concert at the Imagine Music Outdoor Stage, which is in the parking lot at the location on Harrison Boulevard in Ogden. Sometimes they loop in other schools and Northern Utah youth rock bands to make it a festival.

Among the performers is 16-year-old Amy Lewis, bassist for the band Just Jorts. Lewis, a student at Image Music, has played at Harvest Moon the past two years. The first year, she said, was her best performance to date with her band Breadsticks (someone brought breadsticks to a practice).

Just Jorts will perform “crushcrushcrush” by Paramore, “Freaks” by Surf Curse, “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill, “Linger” by The Cranberries, and “Basket Case” by Green Day. 

“Playing with this band has been a really cool experience,” Lewis said. “I’m planning on playing until I graduate out of the program.” 

“I remember playing Nirvana and Pearl Jam with bands in talent shows…” said Owen. After touring the world as a musician, he said the shift in focus to the kids has been “life-changing.” 

The Rock Academy is music lessons amped up.

Imagine Music is about building a supportive community for young musicians, said Owen, to be a “soundboard to be themselves without judgments.” 

Come out to see these dedicated young musicians rock Harvest Moon Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the park next to the Ogden Amphitheater.