However, as the School of Rock draws to a close this year on Saturday 2 August, there will be a slight change to the old formula.

As the next generation of rock musicians leave the stage, their place will be taken by the present generation of local up and coming rock talent, including 'MADD' bands Last Rush and Butcher, and one of Northern Ireland's better known singer songwriters, Bap Kennedy to carry the music on into the evening.

Bap Kennedy was the lead singer and main songwriter of the legendary Belfast rock band Energy Orchard and toured America and Europe constantly in the late 1980's and early nineties where Bap's reputation as a gifted songwriter and a fearless front man was forged.

The excellence of the bands live show was witnessed and praised by the likes of Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, various members of the Rolling Stones and the Pogues to name but a few.

Bap's most recent album "The Big Picture" was recorded with the help of Van Morrison - a long standing friend and mentor, and Van also co wrote one of the songs on the album with Bap - a very rare thing indeed and a measure of Bap's standing in the songwriting community.

Shane Magowan appears on another of the songs and played several gigs with Bap and his band throughout 2004 as an unannounced special guest vocalist, and Bap has recently toured the U.S.A. as special guest of Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits

Supporting Bap will be Butcher comprising Jamie Peters, Davy McDonald and Ronnie Magill, a punk/pop trio influenced by the Ramones and the Sex Pistols - only without the swearing!, and Last Rush, an acoustic duo, Jim O'Neill and Nigel McCoy, whose inspiration ranges from Queen to Radiohead and everything in between.

We are also expecting one or two exciting special guests on the night, so watch this space!

The event takes place on Saturday 2 August at 7.30pm, and tickets are now available from Clotworthy at £6 / £4 concession on 028 9448 1338.