Students from all year groups have been working closely with music teacher Sam Martin to coordinate the event, which runs from 6.30pm until 9pm at Snug Cove on Saturday.

Mr Martin said gaining real world experience will be invaluable for the staging and production group.

“They will have the opportunity to display the skills that they have been honing in school on the public stage by taking responsibility of the stage managing and operating of sound and lighting systems,” he said.

“Students from all years often volunteer their time to help in the smooth running of school formal assemblies, concerts and functions.

“They’re now about to get a taste of the real world.”

In a thrill for the school’s vocal group and HSC music class, they will also have the opportunity to play on the same stage as the headline acts.

Australia’s longest running Aboriginal band, Coloured Stone, will be front and centre on Saturday night, supported by rising and internationally acclaimed blues duo, Doggn It Blues.

With Bunna Lawrie’s 37-year-old band having received multiple accolades from the Australian Rock Industry Awards and National Indigenous Hall of Fame, as well as performing and collaborating with big names like Midnight Oil and Paul Kelly, the students will be in elite company.

“The school vocal group is a regular contributor to regional events, and has been running all year under the guidance of peer mentors Emily Claxton and Kalia Rogers, and music teacher Robyn Martin,” Mr Martin said.

“The group rehearse twice weekly and have been fine tuning in the lead up to the Whale Festival.

“Songs are typically selected from the popular genre with a home grown flavour, and are always presented with passion.”

A wide range of styles will be presented by the HSC class, who Mr Martin says have “gathered the professional edge” during their last year at school.

Their performances will include new and old music, including some original compositions.