Rock School NW | Bloomsday 2026
Every year, the community and thousands of runners gather in Spokane, Washington for one of the city’s most iconic traditions: Bloomsday!
Bloomsday | Spokane Washington
Known as one of the largest road races in the country, the annual event brings together community members, local organizations, businesses, and live entertainment from all across the Inland Northwest. This year, Rock School NW was proud to once again be part of the excitement by showcasing the incredible talent of our student musicians during the race.
Located near the mile six marker, Rock School NW hosted two live music stages featuring performances from five of our student bands throughout the day. As runners made their way through the course, our students helped fuel the energy of the race with live rock music, original songs, and crowd-favorite covers. The weather could not have been better for a day of live music in Spokane. Sunny skies and warm temperatures created the perfect atmosphere for outdoor performances, although things definitely got a little hot by the afternoon. Even so, students, teachers, families, and supporters stayed in great spirits all day long, creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
One of the standout performances of the day came from Royals, one of the longest-running bands in Rock School NW history. Over the years, Royals has become known for their strong musicianship and commitment to developing their sound together as a group. During this year’s Bloomsday performance, they debuted songs from their brand-new catalog, showcasing original material that reflects just how much the band has evolved. Watching longtime students continue to grow as performers and songwriters is exactly what Rock School NW is all about.
Rock School NW Band | Kohesion
Another highlight was Kohesion, who brought an energetic set packed with multiple original songs. Their performance demonstrated the creativity and individuality we encourage throughout all of our music programs. Original music remains a huge part of what we teach at Rock School NW, and seeing students confidently perform their own work in front of a live audience is always exciting.
Rock School NW Band | Velocirockers
The Velocirockers were key contributors at Bloomsday! Their sets opened with tight, punchy rhythms that immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention. Drums, bass, guitar, and vocals locked together so cleanly the whole band sounded like it’s own instrument! Being one of the first shows for some of the band members made this set especially memorable for the long standing group!
No Exit made sure to bring out the HEAT! With heavy material and a bunch of energy, this band kept all Bloomsday participants on their toes. Racers could not resist singing the lyrics of the songs they love with the band, and made sure to let them know they could hear the music. For a few members of No Exit, Bloomsday marked the last time having to do homework after the show, as they walked the graduation stage a few weeks after.
Rock School NW Band | Thunderbeast
Bloomsday also marked an important milestone for Thunderbeast, who performed their very first community show. There is nothing quite like the excitement of stepping onto a public stage for the first time, and Thunderbeast rose to the occasion with a strong and enthusiastic debut performance. Events like these help young musicians gain confidence while becoming part of Spokane’s vibrant live music community.
Several members of the Rock School NW team took on the Bloomsday race alongside the performances happening throughout the day. This year, Tristan, Emilie, Emily, and Hannah all completed the course with flying colors! Between the warm weather, the crowds, and a full day of live music, it was a busy day all around, but they kept great attitudes from start to finish.
Our Rock School NW BLoomies!
Tristan, Emilie, Emily and Hannah ran the track with positive spirits spreading Rock School NW cheer!
We’re proud of the effort they put in to finish the race and still bring positive energy to the bands and students performing throughout the day!
Runners, walkers, volunteers, and spectators stopped to listen, dance, clap along, and request songs. The atmosphere around our stages was full of energy from start to finish. From classic rock covers to original student compositions, the variety of music reflected the talent and hard work our students put in every week during rehearsals and lessons.
Rock School NW is proud to provide music lessons and performance opportunities for students throughout the Spokane area and the Inland Pacific Northwest. Our programs focus not only on learning instruments, but also on collaboration, songwriting, live performance, and building confidence through music. Community events like Bloomsday give students the opportunity to experience what it feels like to be part of the local music scene while representing their hard work in front of thousands of people.
We want to thank all of the students, teachers, parents, volunteers, and community members who helped make this year’s Bloomsday performances such a success. We also want to thank everyone who stopped by the stages to support live student music during the race.
At Rock School NW, one of the most rewarding parts of music education is giving students opportunities to perform in real-world settings, and Bloomsday continues to be one of our favorite community events of the year. Performing live in front of thousands of people gives students invaluable experience with stage presence, musicianship, teamwork, and confidence.
We are incredibly proud of every band that performed this year and cannot wait to do it all again at next year’s Bloomsday!
