Halliford Students Shine at Spectacular Battle of the Bands Showcase

Published by Halliford School on Tuesday 10th of March 2026

The annual Battle of the Bands at Halliford School delivered a blistering night of live music, impressive talent, and electrifying stage presence as students from Year 8 through to the Sixth Form took to the stage for the school’s biggest rock musical event of the year. Parents, staff, and students packed into the John Crook Theatre for an evening that celebrated musicianship, collaboration, and the youthful energy of rock and pop anthems spanning five decades.

The night opened with The Junior Rock Band, whose confidence and enthusiasm set the tone from the first downbeat. Launching into the Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop, lead singer Arno in Year 8 had the audience chanting ‘Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!’ from the start. They followed with a melodic take on Sweet Child O’ Mine, showcasing impressive guitar work from Leo in Year 9, before closing with a crowd pleasing rendition of Smoke On The Water. Their performance proved that even the youngest musicians at Halliford can command the stage.

Next came the first of two Year 9 Rock Bands, who delivered a thoughtful, well balanced set. Lead singer Ted’s interpretation of Arctic Monkeys’ A Certain Romance brought a reflective, indie charm to the evening, while Parklife by Blur injected humour and swagger, complete with spoken word verses that had the crowd grinning.

Year 9 Rock Band 2 followed with perhaps one of the most nostalgic sets of the night. Ethan’s lively performance of Bryan Adams’ Summer of ’69 earned one of the loudest sing alongs of the evening, while the band’s high octane finish of Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train showcased Ethan’s amazing vocal range, and another impressive lead guitar solo.

The atmosphere shifted into polished pop rock as we welcomed the girls from The St. Catherine’s Rock Band, who brought boundless energy to Paramore’s Still Into You. Their harmonies shone, and they kept the momentum high with a passionate performance of Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer, complete with soaring vocals on the iconic chorus.

Later in the evening, the Year 10 & 11 Rock Band delivered one of the most musically complex sets. Their rendition of Arctic Monkeys’ Fluorescent Adolescent was full of charm, followed by a powerful and technically strong performance of Iron Maiden’s The Trooper. Lead singer Tobi closed sentimentally with There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, displaying excellent control and emotional maturity.

The Lower Sixth Rock Band took the show to new heights with a four song powerhouse set. Elijah kicked things off with the raucous I Predict A Riot, moved into the bass driven intensity of Muse’s Hysteria, and Sofia charmed the audience with Blondie’s Call Me. But it was their ambitious and bold performance of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody with James on vocal and keyboard, that brought the house down and left the audience cheering long after the final note.

Closing the evening, the Senior Rock Band with frontman Billy delivered a festival worthy finale. They opened with The Stone Roses’ Love Spreads, transitioned smoothly into Paolo Nutini’s New Shoes, and impressed with a heartfelt version of Everlong. Their performance of Comfortably Numb featured an exceptional guitar solo from Aaric alongside Joanne on the keyboard, and they ended the night with Kasabian’s fiery anthem Fire, sending the audience home buzzing.

As the applause settled, the audience played an active role by voting for their favourite performances in a whole host of categories. After a short pause, our amazing compères, Upper Sixth students Joe and Phoebe announced the results and this year, the honours went to the performers who closed the show. Congratulations to our Senior Rock Band on taking the titles of Best Band and Best Stage Presence. Their musicianship, confidence, and chemistry brought the perfect finale to an unforgettable evening.

With so much talent on display across all age groups, this year’s Battle of the Bands proved once again that the musical future at Halliford School is bright and brilliantly loud. For more information about Halliford School please visit: www.hallifordschool.co.uk