Mulga Bore Hard Rock Band KISS greatness

From sand dunes to a sold-out stadium, the little desert band that could have achieved their rock and roll dreams playing the curtain raiser for the last KISS concert in Australia.

From the bush to the big stage: the Mulga Bore Hard Rock Band were the opening act of the last KISS concert in Australia. Source: Sharp Film Productions

Meeting their rock idols and becoming their opening act is the latest chapter in the inspiring story of an outback school band that rocketed out of Anmatyere–Alyawarre Country and onto the national stage.

In front of thousands of fans on the Gold Coast in Queensland, the Mulga Bore Hard Rock Band blasted out a half-hour set that included original songs like Big Train.

The hard-driving track handed them the Battle of the Band crown in Alice Springs earlier this year, and set them on the path to fame.

Led by Alvin Manfong, the teen rockers, with their KISS-inspired make-up and stage antics, were warmly received by the crowd.

Playing at a stadium on the Gold Coast, the school band were a long way from the Central Australian desert. Source: NITV

“We were excited to jump up on the stage and rock it out, and we did," the 19-year-old frontman told NITV.

Once off stage, the band had a private meeting with their idols. The bandmembers of KISS congratulated them and in turn accepted gifts of boomerangs and art.

A standing invitation to visit Mulga Bore was also extended to KISS.

Alvin and the rest of the band then joined almost thirty thousand adoring fans for one of the world’s great rock shows.

"I usually watch it on my phone but I got to see it live, " Alvin said.

Alvin said their warm-up act left an impression on those KISS fans who caught their performance.

"They came up to me and asked, can I take a picture? And they were singing KISS songs with us."

After meeting their idols the band joined thousands of other KISS fans. Source: NITV

The Mulga Bore Hard Rock band is named for the bandmember's tiny community, located 240 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs.

Truly a family affair, Alvin’s brother Aiden is the drummer, his cousin Triel Bird is on bass, with Talvin Bird and Niara Tilmouth on guitar and vocals

The teenagers formed the band as part of a school music program, and haven’t looked back.

So what’s next for the fledgling rock outfit?

For many in the band, it will mean a return to the classroom where they will catch up on school work and begin planning their next rock and roll adventure.

If their latest song, Let Me Rock and Roll, is anything to go by, this is one desert band that is just heating up.