TWEED Battle of the Bands finalists Soldier Crabs will perform at new youth festival Shakefest in Coolangatta on May 1.

The cousins have been a band for just one year, but are already smashing the local music scene and are in high demand for gigs at surf clubs around the Tweed and southern Gold Coast.

Although the youngest member is just 11 years old, the crew is already producing its own songs, hoping to perform two originals at the festival in two weeks.

Vocalist Keely, 14, said the boys in the band had been practising their instruments for years before forming a band for an Australia Day performance last year.

“We’ve been together for a year,” she said.

“We are really excited about this.”

The Soldier Crabs are also considering a change of band name, so keep an eye out for the talented youngsters.

Shakefest organiser Leisa Mannion said the aim of the event was to showcase local talent in music and bring the community together.

“We are planning as we speak,” she said.

“We’re trying to give youth a safe, free place where they can be entertained for an afternoon.”

A stage will be erected for the day with various youth activities, creative art and stalls.

A skateboard competition will be run in the skate park.

The festival should begin about 1pm and finish at 6.30pm.

Funding for the festival has been provided by the Branch Out Community Small Grants Program, Queensland Health’s Connecting Healthcare in Communities initiative through the Gold Coast Primary Care Partnership Council, managed by Wesley Mission Brisbane.