The Westchester PTA sent out this exciting announcement this morning…

The Voice contestant and Decatur High School student Sydney Rhame gave a surprise performance this morning for students at Westchester Elementary School to help announce the school’s “Battle of the (Dad) Bands” fundraiser, to be held Friday, May 6, 2016, at the historic Avondale Theatre in Avondale Estates.

Rhame will be part of a celebrity judging panel for the event, alongside Dr. David Dude, City Schools of Decatur Superintendent; Mark Trojanowski, drummer for Sister Hazel; Michelle Malone, singer-songwriter, musician, record producer; Trish Land, performer, designer, artist; and Shawn Mullins, singer-songwriter, musician. Award winning DJ and radio celebrity Yvonne Monet will serve as the event’s emcee.

“Battle of the (Dad) Bands” marks Westchester’s second community-wide fundraiser since reopening in 2014. Its first benefit headlined Ramblin’ & Rollin’: An Evening of Songs & Stories with Chuck Leavell. This year’s lineup includes four bands based in Decatur, whose members have children in City Schools of Decatur. The bands include The Dammages, The Benders, Flock of Eagles, and Spackle.

“Hot dads who sing, a great community school, AND snarky celebrity judges … I’m all in!” says Monet.

Westchester Principal Rochelle Lofstrand says the money raised will go towards the purchase of computers and other technology resources for the school, teacher grants, and playground enhancements.

“Following in the tradition we established last year, this event promises great music for a great cause,” says Lofstrand. “We’re so appreciative to the entire Decatur community for supporting Westchester in such amazing ways. May the best band win!”

Tickets are available for purchase for $40 at:

http://www.westchesterpta.org/battle-of-the-bands.html

Decatur’s Sydney Rhame just closed out the last episode of “The Voice” blind auditions by capturing the last open slot on Pharrell Williams’ team.

And if you happened to miss it, you can watch it below!!

Congrats Sydney!!

We have it on good authority that you should tune in to “The Voice” tonight at 8pm on NBC if you’re interested in seeing Decatur’s Sydney Rhame audition.

Good luck to Sydney and the whole Rhame family!

You all gonna watch Decatur’s own Sydney Rhame on the season premiere of “The Voice” tonight?!

(She’s briefly featured around the 1:30 mark in the new season preview above.)

Michael sends this announcement along…

DEF to host benefit concert at Eddie’s Attic

Caroline Herring, Dianne Durrett, Kodac Harrison and Sydney Rhame will perform August 8 at Eddie’s Attic in a first-ever benefit concert for the Decatur Education Foundation. Rhame and Herring will be joined by Harrison at the 5:30 p.m. show and by Durrett at the 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, with tables of four for $100; buy them online at eddiesattic.com. Proceeds go to the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to help Decatur’s children and youth reach their full potential.

You can buy your tickets HERE.

Eleven AND A HALF year-old Decatur resident, Sydney Rhame, has herself a colorful, front of the the Living & Arts, multi-page spread in Sunday’s AJC.  Written by Rosalind Bentley, the article takes up nearly an entire page of newsprint and features multiple pics of Rhame.

In it, we learn that since she won $1,000 from Kudzu, Sydney has been taken in by voice coach Jan Smith, “who counts R&B megastar Usher and his protege, teen-pop throb Justin Bieber, as clients.”  She’s also taking hip-hop dance classes “not because [she] want to sing hip-hop, but because the moves could help her in a pop career.”  Sydney’s goal is a record deal by age 12.

The article is not yet online – part of the AJC’s new strategy to give extra value to the print edition – but once it’s up I’ll post the link here.

Congrats Sydney!

In the midst of helping young Decatur musician Sydney Rhame win $1,000 from Kudzu last year, we also promoted “Girls Rock Camp”, a start-up non-profit founded by “long-time Decaturites” that assists young girls in starting bands and creating original music.

Well, this year the organization is hosting a three day event for the 19 and older crowd!  “Ladies Rock Camp” is limited to 25 participants and will be held at Atlanta Charter Middle School features a culminating performance at L5P’s Five Spot and a songwriting workshop with the Indigo Girls Emily Saliers.

No prior musical experience is necessary and tuition is just $350!

For more info, check out the full press release after the jump or head on over to the Ladies Rock Camp page on the Girls Rock Camp website.

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