MUSIC students from Wiltshire College & University Centre’s Chippenham and Salisbury campuses will be out entertaining gig-goers at two festive shows in the build-up to Christmas.

Students will be doing more than just performing at a gig at new Chippenham venue The Ruze, a new creative hub in a former garage in Union Road co-founded by music fans and businessmen Jacob Roos and Steve Bent.

Owain Milford, Head of Faculty, Creative Arts, Media & Performance, said they will be having input into what will be a test event there. “It’s a rare chance for them to play a part in helping get music off the ground at The Ruze,” he said.

“We’ve had the students involved in the process of getting it set up, so they’ve been doing risk assessments with staff there and helping with the planning so they are getting a taste of what is actually involved in getting a venue going.”

The gig will be an indie session, involving bands made up for students from Chippenham, on 18 December from 2pm to 6.30pm. Tickets are available on the door.

Before that students from Chippenham and Salisbury will be performing at a Wiltshire College takeover punk and metal night at The Pump at the Lamb Inn in Trowbridge on 11 December. Tickets are free and doors open at 7.30pm.

Owain said both gigs will not only showcase the talent at the college but will give the young musicians valuable performing experience.

“Every time they get a chance to play they are learning something new,” he said. “We have some excellent musicians on our courses and the way they develop is playing live so any opportunity they get is brilliant for them.

“We are really grateful to both venues for asking us to play.”