Island Teens Rock Out: Battle of the Bands Kicks Off with Original Tunes!

A new inter-island music competition for musicians under 18 has been launched in the Channel Islands, called the Music Muratti. This event is inspired by the famous inter-island football match and is organized by the School of Popular Music, or SOPM, which has locations in both Guernsey and Jersey. The competition is set up as a battle of the bands, where groups from each island compete to represent their home.

Bands with two to seven members are invited to take part by submitting a video demo of their performance. The best bands will be chosen to perform live at the final, which will be held at Beau Sejour in Guernsey on Saturday, 28 November. The plan is for the final to switch between Guernsey and Jersey each year, giving both islands a chance to host the event. The judging panel will include professionals from the UK music industry, such as John Cattini, a senior executive at Sony Music Entertainment.

To keep the competition fair and creative, every band must perform at least one original song they have written themselves. Each band’s set is limited to 12 minutes, and all members must be under 18 years old. On the night of the final, judges will select the best band from Guernsey and the best from Jersey, before choosing one overall Music Muratti champion.

Tyler Edmonds, the founder and director of SOPM, explained that the Muratti name is special to people in the Channel Islands. He said it stands for pride, community, and the spirit of friendly competition between the two islands.

Both winning bands will receive a full studio and video session at their local SOPM studio, giving them a chance to record their music professionally. Harrison Collins, who manages SOPM in Jersey, said that a competition of this size and quality is new for young bands in the islands, and he believes it will be very popular.

The Music Muratti is a unique opportunity for young musicians in Guernsey and Jersey to showcase their talent, gain experience performing on a big stage, and connect with other young artists. It also helps bring the two islands together through music, building a sense of community and excitement around the arts.