Package by Chad Rhym – Visuals Coordinator
Camp Amped is a summer program that strives to mentor and assist rising musicians in the Athens community.
A medley of radiant lights flashed around the stage as the emotions of young musicians spilled out into the crowd. On June 14 and July 19, a handful of the best youth musicians in Athens perform together in their Grand Finale show at Nuci’s Space in Athens, Ga.
They are the products of Camp Amped, a two-week build-your-band outreach to young musicians. The camp consists of kids ranging from the ages of 11 to 17. At the beginning of the two-week program, each youth musician is randomly assigned to two bands in which they spend the remainder of camp working together to eventually perform a concert for the public.
“(Camp Amped) is a safe haven for those who want it to be,” former Clarke Central High School student Sascha Smith said. “Teenage musicians are delicate creatures, being self conscious with what they write and how they perform. Camp creates a (safety) net for them and everyone is the same there, so they can’t be judged or ridiculed by others.”
The first session consisted of bands, such as Wax Tree who performed “King of Carrot Flowers part 2-3” by Neutral Milk Hotel and FRONT who covered “Forever Time” by Black Flag, with the addition of six other bands who performed that night.
“I was in Solar Winds and FRONT. I think we all played really well,” Athens Academy junior Jacob Conley said. “Collectively it was one of the best shows I’ve ever played.”
From the view of an outsider, it’s simply a summer camp, but for the campers, it offers several unique opportunities.
“Camp really helped me grow as both a musician and as a person, it helped me to better access my creative side,” Conley said. “I’m more confident in myself. I’ve met some of the most beautiful and caring people there, and I’ve made so many friends. I’m not really sure what kind of person I’d be today if didn’t have the chance to be a part of Camp Amped.”
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