Over April, May and June 2024, Dept of Rock will be back at Smith’s Alternative with gigs showcasing some of the great bands that took part in our 2023 Battle of the Bands competition. Come along and give it up again for these amazing public sector musos as they kick arse, playing longer sets and not a judge in sight!

Gig 2 – Cruisin’ Division

Join us for an afternoon/evening of cruisin’ and groovin’ musical briefing! Our five bands from Cruisin’ Division have some big musical ideas to present on keeping it cool. Grab a seat at the table, sit back and enjoy a mix of laid-back grooves and sweet upbeat sounds.

Set Times
3pm - Bars & Tones
4pm - Beer Garden Gnomes
5pm - Howling Moon
6pm - IT Grrrls
7pm - Space Party

Cruisin’ Division Bands

Bars and Tones - Are an acoustic band that serenade with sweet harmonies and cajon drums that encapsulate the sound of a beating heart. They are back performing with Dept of Rock All Stars to show how tender the public service can be – and we can’t wait to be wooed all over again.

Beer Garden Gnomes – started their life in Melbourne with Jonty and a few of his mates, playing gigs around the traps. When Jonty moved to Canberra he wanted to keep the dream alive, and through his public sector job found likeminded musos keen to join his merry band of gnomes. The Beer Garden Gnomes play cool pub rock, and we're excited they'll be cruisin' along at this gig as a duo or trio - either way they’ll have you on your feet and singing along to some great toons.

Howling Moon - are an indie band that play original songs that cross genres of rock, blues and atmospheric prog drawing on love, loss and landscape. John and Tim met while working together at parliament house and started writing original material for Howling Moon in 2019, with David and Jonathan completing the band in 2022. Howling Moon will share their expansive collection of songs and no doubt have us howling for more.

IT Grrrls – came together, from across the public sector, to show that women who work in IT can also rock! And they definitely rocked our Battle of the Bands big time making it all the way through to the final! 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 and be part of their landing in the Dept of Rock universe giving us a glimpse of intergalactic fun, and upbeat surf pop.

Other All Stars Shows
Gig 1 – Cheeky Division 27 April 2024, 3-8pm
Gig 3 – Cranked Division 29 June 2024, 12-5pm

Dept of Rock Battle of the Bands will run again in the second half of 2024 at Smith’s. Check FB for updates.