This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
Friends of Jackson is hosting a screening of Ben Kalina’s documentary HOME: A Rockumentary from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at the BOK Building, 1901 S. Ninth St., in South Philadelphia. A live performance by the band will follow the movie.
For a year, Kalina, a local filmmaker, followed the rock band called Home that’s composed of 4th-8th graders who attend Andrew Jackson Elementary School. The 30-minute film debuted on WHYY-TV in the fall of 2017.
Home is led by music teacher Chris Argerakis. He managed the group on a zero budget by using donated instruments and receiving no compensation for his time. Since the movie came out, the band has expanded, now playing gigs around the city and selling its own merchandise.
Hannah Melville is an English major at Haverford College. She is a Notebook summer intern.