AN audience at Chippenham’s Neeld Hall will be seeing potential stars of the future when music students from Wiltshire College & University Centre perform the work they have produced this year.
Ten bands from the Chippenham campus will be performing at the venue, which once hosted The Who, The Kinks and Roxy Music, on May 6 from 6.30pm. Tickets are just £2.50.
Music lecturers Andy Parker and Ian Jay said the performances will showcase a mix of UAL Level 2, Level 3 year One and Two, Performance and Production students is a culmination of a year’s culmination of a year’s songwriting, sound design, composition and production – and for many it will be their first time performing on a professional stage.
“It’s an opportunity for them to showcase their final projects or work they’ve been producing,” said Andy. “It’s going to be a huge confidence boost for them going up on a big stage, there are a few nerves already but it will be exciting.”
Because students on the courses are encouraged to follow their passions, the bill will feature an eclectic mix of performances, from rock and indie to drum and bass and DJ sets.
“We’ve guided them through that process of developing whatever they want to do,” said Ian. “It’s their own choice of style and whether they want to do produce and EP, an album or a music magazine. It’s important that they are allowed to learn and develop through whatever inspires them.
“The students have musical interests and can play an instrument but many didn’t know how to produce anything when they joined us. We’ve helped them get it all together so that they can put out music on social medias or streaming platforms and now perform live as well.”
Students are also encouraged to lend a hand backstage with the technical aspects of the performance such as sound and staging.
“I think the thing that really excites me and Andy about this course is we can show them how to produce music but also help them understand that there are many other careers in music, such as sound engineering, live sound and event management,” said Ian.
The technical side will be led by Year Two student Adam Daniel, who will be using his role as his final year project. “He said it’s what he’s interested in doing so we’ve really encouraged him to take it on and he’s just run with it,” said Andy.
The lecturers will be recording the Neeld Hall show for students to submit their performance as part of their coursework. Alongside original compositions there will be a variety of rock and indie covers.
“It’s going to be a really interesting mix,” said Andy,” I think people who come along are going to have an entertaining evening.”
The lecturers are using their contacts in the music world to arrange more chances to perform live. “There is a new venue launching in Chippenham and we are arranging something at The Tunnels in Frome, which is really exciting,” said Andy.
“I think more opportunities like that are going to come along and the students’ confidence will continue to bloom. We’re really excited about our next ventures and where we’re going to go with the course.”
Tickets for the Neeld Hall show, titled All Treble, No Trouble, are available here.
Pictured: Level 2 and 3 Music Performance and Production students Charlie Woulfe, Kieron Cranston and Ewan Middleton.
