SCHOOL may be out for summer but budding young musicians are being invited to head back to class for a complete rock-education at a holiday School of Rock.

Banishing the doldrums of the long summer break the two-week Ramsbottom summer school will give youngsters the chance shred on guitar, blast the drums, learn tons of new skills and make great new friends in the process.

Created by Dean Casement of North Manchester blues and roots band The Plumedores and Andy Hargreaves from critically acclaimed Manchester outfit I Am Kloot the classes will take pupils from the rock and roll basics through to forming bands, trying their hand at new instruments, writing their own songs and performing a big concert.

Dean said: “It’s about taking it out of the bedroom and onto the stage and just having fun.

“And it’s also about exploring the other avenues of being in a band. We aim to get the kids a bit out of their comfort zone, meeting others with the same interests and just making music.”

Launched last year the project became an instant runaway success, spurring Dean and Andy to create a monthly meet up.

Every second Sunday music mad teens descend on the centre to jam, write music and perform, with many going on to play in their bands outside the sessions.

Dean said: “Last year I said if just one person from the School of Rock was to go away and form a band that maybe my work would be done, and they have.

“Groups of the kids, who are all good pals with each other, used social media to get in touch with each other and head down to rehearsal studios and formed bands.

“We have even had a band who’ve performed at Band on the Wall. For 16 and 17-year-old kids that’s a great thing, and I like to think that some of the encouragement helped them to that.”

After last year’s inaugural School of Rock the youngsters were also invited to play the Head for the Hills festival in Ramsbottom.

Dean said: “They played a great half an hour set and blew the place to pieces playing everything from Michael Jackson to The Beatles.

“A lot of the other bands on the line up came to watch and it was really good.”

The Ramsbottom Summer School of Rock runs Monday to Thursday for two weeks starting on August 12 at the Ramsbottom Learning Centre in Stubbins Vale Road.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/SchoolOfRockRamsbottom/.