Youth Band Workshop Tour 2009

Media release

Shetland Arts, in conjunction with Shetland Youth Services, are to hold a series of free Saturday afternoon Youth Band Workshops aimed at young people from primary 7 and up. The workshops will be held in Youth Clubs in Sandwick, Mid Yell, Lerwick and Walls.

The first event will take place on 21^st March at Sandwick Youth Club. The workshop tour will culminate in the Shetland Youth Music Forum Conference on 16^th May in the Sandveien Neighbourhood centre, Lerwick. The conference will feature a performance by Oscar Charlie, the young Shetland band who recently moved to Glasgow, with support from local bands and musicians who participated in the workshops.

Bryan Peterson, Shetland Arts’ Music Development Officer said “The aim is to help young musicians and singers to take their playing and performance skills to the next level and encourage them to work together to form effective musical partnerships. The workshops will cover skills and techniques relevant to a range of musical styles, from rock to traditional music and everything in between. Subjects covered will include songwriting and musical arrangement skills, how to work with PA systems, playing techniques and stagecraft.”

Local musicians with a wealth of music industry experience will host the workshops. Archer Kemp is a drummer and tutor who studied at Drumtech in London and has played with a variety of bands in Shetland and the UK mainland. Daniel Gear is a violin player and multi instrumentalist who currently plays with local folk rock band The Revellers. Stevie Hook is a guitarist, singer, sound engineer and instructor who has been closely involved with the local music scene for many years. Fraser Mouat is a bass player, sound engineer, teacher and youth worker who has toured with bands including Def Sheppard and Drop The Box.

The workshops will take place on Saturday afternoons between 12 and 4 at the following locations

• 21^st March - Sandwick Youth Club
• 18^th April - Mid Yell Youth Club
• 25^th April - Sandveien Neighbourhood Centre, Lerwick
• 9^th May - Germatwatt Centre, Walls

The need for the workshops was identified through consultation with members of the Shetland Youth Music Forum, a Shetland Arts led initiative that aims to increase music making and participation opportunities for young people in Shetland by empowering them to set their own agenda for music provision.

The Youth Band Workshops run in conjunction with the Shetland Young Promoters Group, another Shetland Youth Music Forum enterprise, that offers young people the chance to gain real-world skills in managing and promoting their own events with support and advice from local music industry professionals.

The workshops are free and backline equipment such as amplifiers, drums and a PA system will be provided, so all participants need to do is bring their instrument. Numbers will be limited so it is advisable to contact your local Youth Club to book a place.