Mt Kanwary Public School will host their second annual Amplified music competition on Saturday night with bands ­competing across primary and secondary school categories.

The band, which features current and former Maitland Grossmann High School students Adam Howell (drums), Brenton Mulquiney (guitar), Jacob Trow (guitar) and Tim Reeve (bass/vocals), finished third in the competition last year.

Formed in 2012, End Of The Line will play an original song at the competition and have cited American metal legends Metallica as their main influence.

Drummer Howell said the band was thrilled to be able to have another go at the competition.

“It was such an amazing experience, it was a massive crowd,” he said. “We couldn’t not submit an entry again.

“We finished third last year and luckily they let us back in.”

Maitland High School band Youth Avenue took out the event last year after they smashed out a number of Australian-flavoured rock ‘n’ roll tunes in front of more than 500 people. It was the year 10 students’ first gig outside their school.

Mt Kanwary P & C committee president Juliet Thomas told the Mercury the school hoped the event would be as big a success in 2014 as it was in 2013.

Mrs Thomas said Amplified was the small school’s major fundraiser for the year and would involve a first prize of $500 for each of the winners of the primary and secondary students sections. 

The family event will also feature rides, face painting, stalls and food. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for children or $10 for a family.