Pupils Rock the Bacon Theatre in Annual RocSoc Showcase

 

Dean Close School’s annual RocSoc concert on Sunday, 23rd March at the Bacon Theatre was a celebration of talent and passion, lovingly put together by our wonderful Music Teacher and Tower House Mistress, Mrs. Ciara Allen. This year’s show truly proved that “the guitarists are back in force,” with a line-up of diverse numbers that left the audience electrified.

The evening opened with a cool hip-hop routine, expertly choreographed by David, Rhianna, and Caitlin B, setting a vibrant tone for the night. From there, the guitars took centre stage: Ivo’s shredding solos in Crazy Train were a standout, while Will started She Sells Sanctuary with nervous energy but grew in confidence, delivering gothic rock solos that brought the house down. Olivia showcased her skill with a soaring lead on Dire Straits’ Sultans of Swing, while Hugo, a driving force throughout the night, anchored the bass across multiple performances. Former chorister Will S gave a commanding performance of Don’t Look Back in Anger, capturing the spirit of Oasis.

The setlist also took a cinematic turn with Miserlou, as Arthur’s driving guitar solos, backed by Marceau on alto sax, Mr. Franks on tenor sax, and Eddie on trumpet, perfectly captured the Pulp Fiction vib

e of Dick Dale’s surf-rock classic. Esther’s emotional delivery of Goodbye was breathtaking, while Caitlin A’s powerhouse vocals in Don’t Speak, supported by Daisy on backing vocals, brought No Doubt’s Latin-infused ballad to life. Alba’s charismatic performance of You Can’t Hurry Love, accompanied by Georgia and Martha’s backing vocals and a full brass section, had the audience dancing.

The night reached its climax with an epic rendition of Hotel California, featuring stunning double lead guitar solos from Mr. Slade and Year 9 pupil Ivo, closing an unforgettable evening.

With its international flair and dynamic mix of musical styles, RocSoc remains a highlight of the school calendar, uniting pupils from all year groups in their shared love of music and live performance.