Rehearsal is down to the wire at the School of Rock Queens for 16-year-old Rory Gallo on vocals and 14-year-old Colby Curran on guitar.
These teenagers are stepping on stage and stepping into history. With a band of 17 people in the program, they are the opening act at Governors Ball this year. It's the first time the festival will have kids from the community performing.
“I never thought I would be able to do something like this,” Curran said. "I love to play in front of people and that is what I love to do."
“I’ve been counting down since I found out,” Gallo added. “Honestly, I didn’t expect it at all."
What You Need To Know
- Tom Russell, the co-founder and partner of Governors Ball, was inspired to have local talent open the festival because they remind him of his early days in the industry
- Colby Curran and Rory Gallo are two of the 17 students in the band at School of Rock Queens that is opening the festival Friday
- Curran, 14, says he practices guitar anywhere from three to five hours a day in preparation for the show
- This is the first time kids from the community are taking part as openers
The concert series has been around since 2011, named after its inaugural show at Governor’s Island. This year, the venue is Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
“To actually have them play at a music festival in my hometown is a dream come true,” said Tom Russell, co-founder and partner of Governors Ball.
The co-founder says he chose to work with School of Rock Queens because the students remind him of his start in the music industry in the city.
“We were all there as a kid figuring out what you want to do with your life and it was that first job that first moment that really hit you that impacted your decision, and hopefully, this will be that for many of these kids,” Russell said.
“It was like, ‘Wow, is this really happening? We’re getting the kids there. We’re going backstage.' It is going to be awesome,” Michael Rubin, School of Rock Queens owner, added.
Rubin says these kids will not just perform on a big stage, but share the stage with headliners like Lizzo and Kendrick Lamar.
”I grew up listening to these people. They’ve influenced me a lot,” Curran said.
“People like Billie Eilish, Phoebe Bridgers, that I love have played there before, and I never expected to be one of those people,” Gallo said.
Curran and Gallo say they have been practicing hours every day leading up to the festival.
“It’s three hours to five hours a day,” Curran said.
“I can’t ever stop singing. I try to practice at least a half hour or hour a day,” Gallo said.
These teens say they hope all of the rehearsing pays off. Their performance: a smashing success, and it leads to long and rewarding careers.
“I mean, this is what I want to do the rest of my life,” Gallo said.
“I’m just going to see where life takes me. It’s where I’m going to go, but I’m hoping it’s involved with music,” Curran added.
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