Twenty-four amazing bands competed in 4 heats over October/November with 12 bands now moving into two semis-finals. Come and cheer them on as they battle it out for a place in the Dept of Rock grand final on 10 Dec at Smith’s Alternative.

Semi Final 2 - Bands

Absent Ace Tones – Dept of Rock heat 1 was the band’s first outing as a trio, bringing songs to the stage entirely different from the repertoire of their previous incarnation (Nozl). The band will be bringing their unique proggie originals back the semis, including a mini-rock opera that will take us on contemplative riff-based costs-benefit analysis of nostalgia.

Lead Astray - are an eclectic mix of current and former public servants that were jamming in meeting rooms and man caves until Dept of Rock came along. With an age range spanning three decades and inspiration drawing from pop, indie, rock, grunge and metal, Lead Astray will be serving up some frank and fearless rock and roll in the semis.

IT Grrrls – came together, from across the public sector, to show that women who work in IT can also rock! And they definitely rocked in heat 3. With songs that present a slice of life in the IT department, prepare to be surprised, enlightened, and very entertained – again!

Space Party - is a four-piece power surf pop garage punk band, featuring some of Canberra’s hottest live musicians and songwriters that also happen to be public servants. Space Party have just released a new EP, Earth vs Space (Part One), the first part in a trilogy to be released in the coming year. Come watch them launch into the Dept of Rock semi finals with their fun, high energy surf pop.

The Substrates - are a makeshift band bonded together by the very substrates that make magnetic media. Harking from the National Film and Sound Archive these high energy indie punks blew everyone away in Heat 4. Come and watch them raise the roof again at Smiths!

The Crossbenchers - play a cool mix of originals and music from all the best artists across all the genres you know and love! They can be chill, they can be cool, they can be rockin' and they were all that and more in the heat 4. The Crossbenchers love what they do and they do it with a passion for good music – we can’t wait to see them on stage again in the semis.