By Jesse Hammond

Special to The Weekly

Last year’s Rock EN Roll Music Festival raised over $3,500 for music education for Lopez Island School by showcasing performances by local musicians, as well as youth artists and Lopez School District alumni. The funds raised from the music festival where used to buy instruments, strings, microphones, drum heads and a digital mixing board that has been used for six school and community performances as well as allow for students at the school to learn about studio recording.

Shortly after the festival, youth musicians Charlotte Morgan, Jack Sovelove and Zackary Mackinnon presented their desire for the creation of an after-school music club to the student body and thus the Music Production and Performance Artist Collective for Teens was created. Along with their live performances, MPPACT students recorded an album worth of material using modern digital methods. The students also performed a show in Tacoma hosted by the Puget Sound Music for Youth Association who will be present at Rock En Roll and sponsoring another youth group, Color IX.

MPPACT is open to all middle-high school students and has welcomed 17 student members this last year. Eight of which will be playing under the band name of Sweet T at this year’s music festival this Labor Day Sunday. Those musicians are Dylan Moore, Grace Zoerb, Hazel Arden, Jack Sovelove, Quinn Steckler, Sonnette Roberson, Tyler Sovelove and Zackary Mackinnon. The goal of this year’s festival is to raise $2,000 to purchase a new drum set, recording tools and some miscellaneous instruments and parts.

Concert attendees will be treated to some of the best music Lopez has to offer as well as a few vivacious off island entertainers as well. The festival kicks off at 1 p.m. and will go until sundown. Admission is free, but a donation of $15 is suggested. For more information, please visit: rockenrollyouth.squarespace.com and like away at facebook.com/rockenrollyouth.