Leeds youngsters put on own gig following lack of live music in area

On Saturday a group of young people from East Leeds FM will be telling top Yorkshire band Hope & Social what to do.

Responding to a lack of live music in the area, particularly for young people, they have decided to turn promoters themselves and put on their own gig.

The event on the 25th will include a line up of local musicians all under 18 years old, who represent some of the best emerging talent in East Leeds, as well as the headline act. It all takes place as part of the eXpression Arts Festival.
 
Community arts organisation Heads Together have been working with the young people in East Leeds, as part of their East Leeds FM community radio station.

The young people have been meeting regularly to develop their musical and writing skills. However, they were disappointed at the lack of live music that took place in East Leeds, particularly if you are under 18 years old.

As Holly Atkinson, aged 12 and a member of the Next Generation group at East Leeds FM, said:

"We have developed so much musical talent on East Leeds FM, and most of it was from young people under 18 years old.

"We've had great fun doing broadcasts on the radio, but we were looking for new ways for musicians to play live to wider audiences. That's when we realised that there are hardly any local places you can go and see live music if you are under 18, so we decided to put on our own gig and get a really big band to headline the show!"

Heads Together worked with the young people through a new programme of training workshops, mentored by professional musicians.

They have all been able to develop their musical skills, learn about how to promote themselves, understand sound engineering and generally everything else that they would need to put on a live performance. And they have learnt from the best. Hope & Social are Yorkshire's most popular indie band, who tour nationally and internationally.

Founding member Rich Huxley has led many of the sessions with the young people, teaching performance and musical skills.

The icing on the cake for this group of young people was to put on their own gig that would attract an audience of 300 plus.

Adrian Sinclair, Creative Director of Heads Together Productions added:

"This gig is organised by and for young people and comes directly from the performances that they have done at ELFM and at local festivals such as Garforth Arts Festival and Seacroft Gala. We think it is brilliant that they have pulled this gig together and are more than willing to support them as it fits in with the ELFM aim of bringing more live music to East Leeds."

ELFM are always looking for new people to get involved with the station and its events. If you are interested in finding out more, go to the ELFM website at www.elfm.co.uk, or contact info@elfm.co.uk. 

Guest blogger Linda Strudwick is development director at Heads Together Productions

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