A group of ambitious high school students on the New South Wales Central Coast have proven that live music festivals are far from dead, creating and running their own event called Northwave in a remarkable display of creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurial spirit. The student-led festival, organised entirely by Year 12 students from Northlakes High School in San Remo, attracted hundreds of attendees and provided a platform for emerging local musicians. The festival was developed as part of the students’ Vocational Education and Training (VET) Entertainment Industry Studies course.
Rather than following previous class projects such as discos and haunted houses, the seven students decided to create a full-scale live music festival from the ground up. Their responsibilities included booking performers, arranging sound and lighting, securing sponsorships, marketing the event, and managing logistics. Held inside the school gymnasium, Northwave transformed the venue into a vibrant concert space complete with a makeshift mosh pit and live performances from six local bands.
More than 300 people attended the event, supporting young musicians and celebrating the region’s music scene. The festival featured predominantly rock and metal acts including Jinjo, Soul Vessel, Kuthula, Misanthropy, and other emerging performers from the Central coast. Student organiser Drew Perrot-Schryver said the team wanted to show what young people could achieve when given the opportunity.
The students were motivated by the decline of major Australian festivals in recent years, with events such as Bluesfest, Splendour in the Grass, and the Big Day Out either cancelled, paused, or no longer operating. Rather than waiting for opportunities, the teenagers decided to create one themselves. Teacher Nathan Murray praised the students for independently managing the project, explaining that staff remained largely hands-off throughout the planning process.
Students were required to seek approvals, understand technical requirements, manage budgets, and solve real-world challenges associated with staging a live event. The experience provided practical industry skills beyond traditional classroom learning. Local performer Cameron Barnett, known by his stage name Jinjo, said Northwave gave heavier music genres a rare opportunity to be showcased on a larger stage.
He noted that rock and metal artists often struggle to find performance opportunities, making the student-run festival an important platform for local talent. The event also highlighted a lack of all-ages live music festivals on the Central Coast. Student organiser Blake King said teenagers often have to travel nearly two hours to Sydney to attend major youth-focused rock festivals.
Northwave demonstrated strong demand for local live music experiences designed specifically for young audiences. Following the festival’s success, the students will receive a Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services. Organisers and teachers now believe future classes may expand the concept into an even larger event, potentially creating a long-term tradition that supports the next generation of Australian musicians, promoters, and entertainment professionals.
