Rockstars Band ‘Elephant Reserve’ posing with founder Krystle Baller (center top) before a show October 26. Credit: Facebook
On December 7, We Rock Charlotte continues to celebrate a decade of service to the young girls and LGBTQ+ youth of the city by hosting their annual Battle Of The Bands event.
Starting off as Girls Rock Charlotte in 2014, the local non-profit has been a place for girls and gender diverse youth to explore themselves through the music landscape since its inception. What started off as summer music camps under the local Girls Rock chapter, put together by We Rock CLT founders Krystle Baller (they/them) and Kelly Finley, would end up being so much more. Staffed and curated by women and members of the LGBTQ+ community in and out of Charlotte’s music scene (including Baller and Finley) We Rock CLT now boasts a plethora of programs that people of all ages can be a part of.
The next event, continuing the celebration of We Rock CLT’s tenth birthday, is the finale of the Rock Roulette Fundraiser series. The initial event on November 2 saw twenty musicians split off into multiple bands, using games to decide how artists would be grouped together. Throughout November these bands will experience a total of four practice sessions and learn three songs to present. On December 7, each line-up will duel it out on Free Range Brewing’s stage in a Battle of the Bands.
For the band that raises the most funds for We Rock CLT and the band that has the loudest crowd, awards will be given out at the end to celebrate.
The fundraising will benefit We Rock CLT’s ability to continue creating programs for youth and adults to explore through music as well as film. Pitching in to the non-profit will also allow them to keep safe spaces available for women and the LGBTQ+ community in the many events and groups the organization curates, including clubs, workshops, concerts and yearly camps.
We Rock Charlotte’s Rock Roulette Battle of the Bands will take place at Free Range Brewing on December 7, starting at 6:30 p.m. The exhibition is free for the public to attend.