A talented young Mount Aspiring College (MAC) band has been selected from more than 100 applicants to perform at the RenewArt exhibition next week.

The alternative rock band Better Than Nothing, which comprises four MAC students, is one of three bands that has been chosen to play at the community showcase.

“It’s great to be selected. To be included with some really great, creative people is inspiring for us,” the band’s drummer Archie Orbell said.

The up-and-coming band has had many performing opportunities: While performing outside Kai Whakapai, they were invited to go on tour with Christchurch band Troika, and an invitation to play at the Burning Horse Festival in Southland was tossed inside their guitar case at the same venue on a different day.

After returning from RockQuest in September, the band stopped for a meal at Pig & Whistle in Queenstown. Someone noticed their gear and invited them to play a couple songs. It didn’t take long before all of the 20-something female patrons were dancing along to their music.

Members of the band include Henry McConnell on vocals, Clarke West on guitar, and Archie Orbell on drums - all 15-year-old Year 10 students - and 13-year-old Year 9 student Otis Murphy on bass. 

Better Than Nothing. PHOTO: Supplied

This is Otis’s first year as bass player, but Better Than Nothing has been together for over three years.

The band performed at Matariki and Welcome to Winter and was the only band playing on the closing day at Treble Cone. This summer they have gigs booked at Hook and closing day at Cardrona.

Inspired by Sticky Fingers, Royal Blood, and Imagine Dragons, Better Than Nothing has a 30 minute line-up of original songs, and a list of cover songs.

The band’s growing reputation is getting them noticed, and their “sound guy” Oscar Goodwin is good at securing gigs for them, but it’s their “very cool” music teacher Mat Doyle who offers the most help in finding opportunities for them to perform. 

The band members all agree the school music department is “incredible”. Mat reckons the band is “relentless in their search for gigs or recording opportunities”. He sees them as very capable musicians but credits their success to their friendship and their love of music.

The band members’ dads play an important role in their success as well. With band members not legally old enough to drive, transportation to and from events, as well as rehearsals, becomes an issue.

Locations like Treble Cone have no sound or electronic equipment already set up, so everything has to be hauled up the mountain and put into place. The dads play the roles of roadie, manager, driver, financer, and PR guy, which might not make them famous, but it’s better than nothing.

Check out the Better Than Nothing Facebook page.

RenewArt was created to celebrate the local arts scene, create a paid opportunity for artists and provide a series of free events for the community, with a shared theme of ‘renewal’. It will take place in Wanaka on October 16 and 17, and in Queensown on October 9 and 10.