Deaf Perception, a group whose members are all ex-students from Ryde Secondary College, was declared the winner of City of Ryde's 2024 Battle of the Bands competition which was held at Lachlan's Line Auditorium on 17 April.
An impressive lineup of promising local talent was on hand to take part in the annual competition which showcased a variety of exciting styles and genres.
Deaf Perception's members – Maddie McDermott, Marko Pejoski, Jeremy Tedjasukmana, and Kylar Chan – won a free professional recording session (mixed and mastered) with Katcha Music Studio valued at $2000.
The band has been writing and releasing original music that explores a wide range of genres and fusion, including rock and hardcore/bossa nova. They love performing live and sharing their songs to a growing audience.
There were also plenty of cheers for the runners-up, who shared in $750 worth of gift vouchers to Mall Music Macquarie Centre.
The folk and jazz influenced Rosemary – which features members Charlie Donnellan, Dylan Webster, Shenuka Astbury, and Joey Graves – took out second place, with the band about to head into the studio to record two new songs.
In third place was the three-piece Freak, made up of Ben Rogers, Max Elwin, and Ethan Rogers. Influenced by grunge-era favourites like Silverchair and Nirvana, they have entered numerous band comps and won 'Most Promising Original Song' at St Joseph's Battle of the Bands in 2023.
Meanwhile, Two Extra Ribs – an all-girl band featuring Zoe Panzera, Sienna Braithwaite, Charlotte Austin, Emma Darcy, and Jean Cusack and playing their first proper gig – was the group recognised for drawing the biggest crowd of the night.
City of Ryde Mayor Clr Trenton Brown said it was a fantastic night of entertainment.
"Live music is alive and well in the City of Ryde," he said. "Every performance was impressive, and it was great to see such an abundance of originality and energy on the Lachlan's Line Auditorium stage."
