Aviation

After playing gigs around the area, local band Aviation is ready to perform the singles on its new EP.

The official release of the six-song demo While Saints Were Sleeping takes place Friday night at Fellowes High School beginning at 7 p.m. Opening for Aviation is Loose Change.

Aviation, which consists of lead vocalist Dylan Liedtke, drummer Robert Patterson, bass guitarist Nathan Thompson and lead guitarist Jacob Cancade, has been together for about two years, although the Fellowes High School students have been friends since Grade 9 and have been like brothers ever since.

They worked with local musician Curtis Kennedy, formerly of Daydreams for Dollars, on their demo which was recently completed. They classify their sound as blues and rock with a '70s flavour, according to Mr. Liedtke, who takes a lead role in writing original material for the band, although everyone is involved in the collaborative process.

"We are all passionate about where this could take us," he said, adding they have plans to take a year off after graduating to travel and play music.

They practice at least once a week and but try to get together more when time permits. They credit the Grind Youth Centre and Jerry Novack for helping the band get their start, as they played a number of times at the youth centre. They played almost 10 shows in February and March with several scheduled for May, which the band members hope will be the beginning of a busy summer.

Earlier this year, Aviation competed in a battle of the bands competition in Ottawa at Mavericks Bar, placing first on the night. There is a second round of competition with heavier bands and the top four bands from each night will compete at Capital Music Hall for a chance to move on to Montreal for a showcase in front of Universal Records executives. The date for the Capital City Music Hall is still to be determined, however.

The local musicians are hoping that even playing in Ottawa will open doors as they've heard a band the same age as them was signed to a record deal last year after playing on the same stage.

The CD release concert runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Fellowes cafeteria. Admission is free.

Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist - The Daily Observer

After playing gigs around the area, local band Aviation is ready to perform the singles on its new EP.

The official release of the six-song demo While Saints Were Sleeping takes place Friday night at Fellowes High School beginning at 7 p.m. Opening for Aviation is Loose Change.

Aviation, which consists of lead vocalist Dylan Liedtke, drummer Robert Patterson, bass guitarist Nathan Thompson and lead guitarist Jacob Cancade, has been together for about two years, although the Fellowes High School students have been friends since Grade 9 and have been like brothers ever since.

They worked with local musician Curtis Kennedy, formerly of Daydreams for Dollars, on their demo which was recently completed. They classify their sound as blues and rock with a '70s flavour, according to Mr. Liedtke, who takes a lead role in writing original material for the band, although everyone is involved in the collaborative process.

"We are all passionate about where this could take us," he said, adding they have plans to take a year off after graduating to travel and play music.

They practice at least once a week and but try to get together more when time permits. They credit the Grind Youth Centre and Jerry Novack for helping the band get their start, as they played a number of times at the youth centre. They played almost 10 shows in February and March with several scheduled for May, which the band members hope will be the beginning of a busy summer.

Earlier this year, Aviation competed in a battle of the bands competition in Ottawa at Mavericks Bar, placing first on the night. There is a second round of competition with heavier bands and the top four bands from each night will compete at Capital Music Hall for a chance to move on to Montreal for a showcase in front of Universal Records executives. The date for the Capital City Music Hall is still to be determined, however.

The local musicians are hoping that even playing in Ottawa will open doors as they've heard a band the same age as them was signed to a record deal last year after playing on the same stage.

The CD release concert runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Fellowes cafeteria. Admission is free.

Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist - The Daily Observer