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Student Highlight: Rock, Middle School, and The Revolt
July 16, 2026—Students are finding more and more ways to stay connected to friends and enjoy their summer. Four Hamilton County students are proving that even when they start at different schools, when classes return, there are still plenty of ways to stay connected to one another. Their method? A band!
The Revolt, a young hard rock band made up of four talented student musicians, recently took the stage at Songbirds, performing for a live audience and reminding everyone that great music has a way of bringing people together, no matter the generation.
The band includes Olivia Hodge, 14, on vocals, Riley Carroll, 14, on guitar, Micah Waddell, 14, on bass, and Graeme Duggan, 13, on drums. While they may be young, they are already making a name for themselves with powerful performances inspired by legendary rock bands like Black Sabbath, Metallica, System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, and Green Day.
Their journey began in the band room at Loftis Middle, when Riley and Micah decided to start a band. At first, it was just for the talent show, but quickly grew into something more.
“We all went to the same school,” Olivia said. “Micah and Riley had been playing for a while. They wanted to perform ‘Paranoid’ for Beta Club, but they needed a vocalist. That’s how I joined. Then Graeme joined after Beta Club, and we just kind of started going from there.”
What started as a one-time school performance has grown into something much bigger. At their recent show at Songbirds, the band performed before a packed crowd that included classmates, teachers, family members, and even strangers who became fans after seeing the lineup.
Looking toward the future, each band member has a dream venue they want to perform at some day. “I really want to play somewhere outdoors,” one band member said. “A scenic place instead of a stadium.” Another shared that after seeing Metallica perform at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, playing there one day would be a dream.
This summer also marks an exciting milestone for the band. Micah, Riley, and Olivia are preparing to begin high school this fall at different schools across Hamilton County. While their schedules and schools may change, their passion for music isn’t going anywhere.
Even though their school paths may look a little different this fall, The Revolt isn’t slowing down. The four friends plan to keep practicing, performing, and finding new places to share their music with the community. Their next performance could even be happening at a neighborhood porchfest near you.
