Four former Mount Aspiring College pupils who make up electro-punk band Colour Classic are more nervous about taking to the stage in front of some of the biggest names in New Zealand music than performing for the more than 4000-strong crowd at today's Rippon Music Festival in Wanaka.
Colour Classic, previously known as Mercury Brigade, is comprised of drummer Thomas Dickson (18), guitarist Hugh Haworth (17), vocalist Kape Sinnott (18) and keyboardist Rohan Brash (17).
The boys have won the coveted local artists' spot in the line-up for the sold-out festival, held at the Rippon Vineyard, and were doing their best to keep their nerves in check during a final rehearsal of their set yesterday.
"It hasn't really kicked in that much yet," Hugh said.
"We'll probably just wake up in a cold sweat," Kape added.
"It's mostly just playing in front of the other musicians, because they're all so good."
The young performers have already been mentored by stars such as Anika Moa, Barnaby Weir and members of Shapeshifter during workshops put on by non-profit society Lake Wanaka SouNZ Incorporated, which runs the Rippon Festival.
The band has won the past three Central Otago Smokefreerockquests, albeit with a slightly different line-up each time. Kape joined the band in 2010, while Rohan signed on last year, replacing Tom Sherson.
The boys were to meet the festival musicians over pizza last night, and will mingle with them again today in the exclusive backstage area, when not fraternising with their local friends and fans in the crowd.
"I'll probably be watching most of the bands in the mosh pit," Hugh said.
They expected to be most starstruck by big name acts Kora, The Datsuns and Street Chant.
Their own set will feature all original songs, with the exception of "our version of the Mint Chicks version of a Frank Zappa song", they said.
The boys finished school last year and will pursue different studies in Wellington this year - music for Hugh, cheffing for Thomas, and electrical engineering for Kape and Rohan.
