Amplify

Amplify is our new music mentoring programme. In July we teamed up 3 new young bands with a professional mentor to hone their skills, write new songs, and ultimately perform at our festival in September!

Day one saw us descend on Vortex rock bar with some wide-eyed teenagers to make some noise. ‘Teenage Kicks’ was ringing out and all was good. The young people have taken part in workshops with their mentors; Rob Crisp (Knuckle), Georgia Jakubiak (The State of Georgia, The Research), Jamie Roberts (Gilmore and Roberts) and even played a warm up gig as part of Wakefield Artwalk – that was day two! For most of the bands’ members – it was their first ever gig. 

Since then, they’ve rehearsed each week, attended a networking event where they met students and professionals from the music industry, shared their work in progress at a creative showcase, and attended live gigs as audience at events run by Body’s, and Philophobia Music. All of this work forms a portfolio, which counts towards a Bronze level Arts Award, and provides CV and college application material for the young people to use ongoing.

 The aim was to play at Long Division Festival itself, and the young bands opened the festival at The Hop, on the Saturday. Look out for ‘Wasted Hours’, ‘Often the Case’ and ‘The Pearl Foxes’ as bands for the future. 

Pearl Foxes have already secured a gig with Philophobia music 

We have engaged 12 young people aged 13-18 in the programme. 

Parent feedback – Thank you Long Division and everyone who has helped these young adults and giving them the opportunity to bring out the best in themselves.”