Music
29 Apr 04

Blast Beat final for Helix

This year's Blast Beat Challenge will take place on May 16 at The Helix, Dublin

The AIB sponsored Blast Beat project is scheduled to reach its final stages for the current academic year in May. The project, the brainchild of Robert Stephenson, who has been championing the Blast gigs for over five years now, involves Transition Year students in running their own mini-companies on a year-round basis and also includes a Battle of the Bands.

The programme, which was approved by the Department of Education, ran in ten schools this year. The final of the 2004 band challenge will take place on Sunday 16th May, in the Helix, Dublin and it will be accompanied by an exhibition, during the day, of the activities of the mini-companies. The top Mini Music Company, as decided by a panel of music industry judges, will win €5,000. Meanwhile, the winning band will receive an album deal offer from Kidnapped Records, a single and album release, and a tour of Ireland, which will be organised by the Blast Youth In Music organisation.

"At a time when there has been criticism from Minister Noel Dempsey of Irish business for not investing enough in our education system, this is a very positive initiative," Robert Stephenson tells hotpress.com. "Blast Beat acts as an interface between the business and educational worlds. The fact that this programme is an great alternative to the over emphasis on points that currently plagues our schools etc makes it attractive to many in education, and to students too..."

"The central philosophy of Blast Beat is to give teenagers a positive experience of fun and entertainment, in an alcohol and drug free environment," says Lisa McMunn of Chris Roche PR, who are handling the PR for the event. "In this way, Blast Beat allows teenagers the opportunity to become involved in music as a positive alternative to drug abuse."

The AIB Blast Beat Challenge will take place on Sunday, 16th May 2004 at The Helix, Dublin, doors open at 5:00 pm. Tickets for The AIB Blast Beat Challenge are priced at €12.00 and €10.00 for students. Tickets can be purchased at The Helix box office.