MICHAELMAS ’22 ROCK-IT

This year’s Michaelmas Rock-It was a performance worth remembering.

Featuring a huge range of talent and musical genres, from classic band songs to romantic ballads, it inspired an eager and excited audience and from the off had them bouncing up and down and singing at full voice right from the off. The performance took place in the Studio Theatre, with the stage rising from smoke and very sophisticated lighting rigs on the ceiling. Setting the tone for the night was Phoebe L with Ava M on drums, delivering a passionate performance of Ed Sheeran’s The A-Team and setting the bar very high. Next played was Fade and Arcade by Emma M, Corey V and Will M with the first appearance of the A Block Band – Ben P on drums, Greg M on bass and Toby H on piano: a very promising up-and-coming group that provided much of the support throughout the evening. Enaka B gave her debut performance with a stunning rendition of Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain and Bruno Mars’ Locked Out of Heaven, with the addition of Ilya P on electric guitar. The audience were then treated to some classics from Hannah Dabbs, featuring an appearance from Jonathan B on keys. She sang Steal My Girl by One Direction and I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift – both very popular with the crowd watching from all year groups.

Following was a set that included many Rock-It classics: Wonderwall, Teenage Dirtbag and a great rendition of Teen Spirit, all firm Repton favourites. Singing this was

Seren Owens with the A Block Band joined by Rubens Derry on lead guitar. Next, fuelling more excitement of the crowd, we had Feel it Still sung by Henry Wood with Michael Carson on piano and synth.

At this point an hour’s worth of music had been consumed and the venue was getting pretty hot with all the singing and dancing. But things did not cool down with the next act - Daniel C and Harry S, supported by Rubens D, Ava M and Toby H - and some real crowd-pleasers like Riptide and Viva La Vida. Charlie H kept up the crowd’s energy with a rendition of Use Somebody, ably supported by Zak W on electric guitar.

Then it was time for Carwyn O to unleash his frenetic set of Everlong, Chelsea Dagger and a superb finisher of Bon Jovi’s Living On a Prayer. The entertainment continued with the appearance of the Rock-It veteran Esther A-A, and her sparkling set of Thinking Out Loud, Marry Me and ABBA’s Dancing Queen, supported by Ed R, Ali T and Jess L and Boris C. Finally, to end what had been a truly inspiring night of singing and dancing, we had Brazil sung by Carwyn O, with Jacky H on guitar making his debut, Ed R on lead and, of course, Boris C on kit. This was the perfect ending to a highclass night of fun and great music, none of which would have been possible without the tireless efforts and energy of Mr Fairbrother in rehearsals and pulling it all together on the night.

Ali T (U6F)