The talented teens of this year’s Amplify Lawrence rock band camp will make their onstage debut Saturday.
At the annual weeklong camp, girls and transgender and nonbinary youth ages 12-18 can learn the basics of an instrument or vocals, form a band and perform a live show. The camp has returned to an in-person format this year, following two virtual camp summers.
The Amplify Lawrence: Camp Showcase is Saturday, July 2 at Liberty Hall, with doors to open at 6 p.m. and the show to start at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $5 and available at this link. Kids under 5 may enter free with a paid adult. Masks are strongly encouraged.
Originally known as Girls Rock Lawrence, Amplify Lawrence has been inclusive of girls and transgender and nonbinary youth since its founding in 2015. The organization changed its name in 2020 after campers insisted the name fully match the organization’s values and purpose.
“It is a music camp, but it’s also about self-discovery. We want them to know it’s OK to be unique, it’s OK to feel different,” Katlyn Conroy, camp director, said earlier this year. “Instead of focusing on physical appearances, like how cool they look, we try to build them up with compliments about the quality of their character and talent so that they feel comfortable within themselves.”
Here’s a peek behind the curtain at this year’s camp from Instagram:
Amplify Lawrence is a member of Girls Rock Camp Alliance, a global network that supports youth-centered social justice and arts efforts. Learn more about it on its website.
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