School of rock kids set to take the Bluesfest stage

There's Beck, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Franti, Lucinda Williams, and Jason Isbell, and then there's the kids from Rappville Public School.

A band fronted by a six-year-old singer from the NSW Northern Rivers school will take to the stage at Byron Bay Bluesfest on Monday, on the same line-up as some of the world's biggest blues, country and rock acts.

The children are playing as part of the Big Scrub Orchestra, a music program supporting school students in fire and flood-affected areas.

Director Amanda Dumesny said the nine-year-old lead guitarist was one of many students so taken with music that she recently got an instrument of her own, an electric guitar she's named Jasmine paired with an amp called Ollie.

"The greatest level of success was they were asking for musical instruments for Christmas; keyboards, guitars and drums," Ms Dumesny told AAP.

"(The girl) turned up with a brand spanking new sunny yellow electric guitar. The colour just symbolises sunshine after the rain, a symbol of hope."

The band will perform a cover of River by Australian blues artist Ash Grunwald.

Grunwald spoke to the children via Zoom last week, performing for them and listening to them play.

"When I first told the children about meeting Ash, one of them squealed with delight because we've been learning his song for a year," Ms Dumesny said.

"It was like meeting your hero."

Grunwald is due to play one hour after the Rappville band's set, which will be on the Juke Joint stage in the afternoon.

"They know it's a one-in-a-million opportunity; so many musicians would love to play Bluesfest."

School principal Kathleen Collis said the program was new and exciting for the students.

"It's been a wonderful addition for them to explore their interests through music," Ms Collis said.

The Big Scrub Orchestra, based in Woodburn, has been taking music into classrooms around the Northern Rivers for a decade.

Teachers have told Ms Dumesny music helps with other subjects like maths, science and literacy and makes kids enthusiastic about attending school.

"It's life-changing because they're learning a new skill and music is known to be a great healer on so many levels," Ms Dumesny said.

"It's a really powerful way for anyone, including children, to release emotion in their own way."