Bandfest 2025 Rocks the Blake
July 3, 2025
After months of hard work, the Norwich School rock bands took to the stage for an exciting and diverse evening of entertainment.
Hitting the stage first with Iron Maiden’s The Trooper, Bad News (now to be known as Silverhand) delivered a blistering opening to the event, featuring impeccable twin guitar harmonies and an expertly delivered solo from brothers Dan and Jacob Cracknell. We were then treated to an eclectic mix of songs, showcasing the strengths of each member of the band, highlights being a lyrical guitar solo from Tommy Cahir in Supersonic by Oasis and captivating vocals from Ben Griffiths in When the Sun Goes Down by Arctic Monkeys.
EGG (Electric Guitar Group) - 12 guitars, bass and drums and a rousing performance of Enter Sandman by Metallica. A gentle start from Merlin Perrow, an exciting build up from Oscar Cook (drums) and Rita Kherbeck (bass) leading to a thrilling riff with full band and an intense solo skilfully played by Alex Singh, Sahib Wahiwala and Sam Paretti. The group was tight, exciting and very loud!
A complete change of mood from Rhapsode, with a skilful and atmospheric performance of Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap (beautiful vocals from Maleeya Watts), a gorgeous rendition of the acoustic hit Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae, played skilfully on acoustic guitar by Sahib Wahilwala, and finishing their set with a mellow vibe - Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers, featuring a memorable guitar solo from Sam Paretti and a solid rhythmic foundation from drummer Lev Oyelakin.
To finish the event, a diverse and exciting set from Orion for their final performance. Paranoid by Black Sabbath was a strong opener, featuring a powerful performance by Charlie Clover on guitar and the energetic stage presence of Ernie Howes on vocals, singing with Orion for the first time. The evening ended on a high with two more songs by Metallica, with powerful and dynamic drumming by Oscar Cook, exciting lead guitar work from Zach Baker, an exciting range of sounds from Ezra Collis on bass (from melodic and musical to rhythmic and powerful) and charismatic vocals from Summer Nesbitt.
This was a great opportunity to hear these wonderful musicians - make sure you don’t miss it next year!







