Sharing the Stage will kick off the eighth show in the series on Friday, when four student groups will open a concert by Brothers From Another (BFA), a Seattle hip-hop group.

BFA is a young band with plenty of success to its name and a lot of exposure throughout the Northwest. They have played Sasquatch, The Crocodile Café and other top venues.

“I have no doubt that Vashon is going to enjoy their music and their energy,” said Harris Levinson, one of the series producers.

According to Fred Strong, another producer, Sharing the Stage has been an event for all ages, and up until this year, one that showcases high school students as the opening acts for the headline band. For the first time in the series, the concert will showcase a middle-school act. The young band, Daisy Chain, features Sarah Hotchkiss, Maijah Sanson-Frey and Whitney Silkett.

Other openers for the show include Cameron Sonju on guitar, Nathaniel Parrott on keyboards and electronics and rapper Donald Evans III. Sonju and Evans are both series veterans who opened for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in 2011, and Evans returns to the stage as an alumnus.

Levinson said the audience can expect to hear original music from all of the musicians.

“From our very first shows, our professional mentors have always encouraged the student musicians … to put their own voice out there. Ian Moore gave that message. … Covers are great, (but) original songs really deepen the experience.”

Rob Bordner, the third co-producer, said the audience should watch for a collaboration in which some of the student openers take the stage together. The collaborations emerged during the rehearsal process, which is built into the Sharing the Stage program. Students are selected through auditions, then rehearse with a mentor who is a working professional musician. Dominic Wolzcko returned this years as mentor, with John Starks as sound mentor.

The show will be at 8 p.m. Friday at the Red Bike. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults and are available at the door or in advance at the VHS office and www.brownpapertickets.com.