Our house bands from Cedar Rapids/Marion and West Des Moines will be headed on the road this summer as they prepare to take the stage in Ohio and North Carolina! 

Some exciting news for house bands from Cedar Rapids/Marion and West Des Moines. For the first time, members were invited to play at the Queen City Rock Fest in Cincinnati and the New Moon Mountain Festival at the University of North Carolina's Asheville campus.

Both festivals are scheduled for this summer in July. The Queen City festival is being hosted by School of Rock Cincinnati and is limited to 10 bands. Each band will play a full set at this festival.

The New Moon Mountain Festival is being coordinated by School of Rock Chapel Hill and is limited to seven schools. This experience is a camp experience, where students will stay on campus in the dorms. During the camp, they get to perform around campus. They will also be put into what’s called “Super Groups”. The musicians will be playing alongside students from other house bands. They will rehearse daily and put together a brand-new set that will be performed at the end of the camp at the Iconic Orange Peel in Downtown Asheville.

School of Rock’s Iowa founder, Greg Moore, believes opportunities outside of the state are great for students and their families.

“It also gives them the opportunity to meet, connect with, and perform alongside student musicians from other schools,” he said.

Moore traveled with students previously to other festivals, such as the Summer Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Drive and travel times could take hours, but he says it’s always worth it.

“Seeing our students advance themselves both on and off the stage is the most gratifying part of being associated with School of Rock. There is nothing more exciting to me than to be able to offer more opportunities like that for our students this year,” he said.

Both festivals invite a small number of bands, that’s why we are so honored to be part of it! So we hope you are already marking your calendars.

Queen City Rock Fest: July 19-21, 2024

New Moon Mountain Festival: July 21-26, 2024