Cardiff-based music development organisation, Sound Progression, is launching a Youth Music Academy to offer bespoke creative development opportunities to some of South Wales’ freshest young music talents and increase diversity.
Up to sixteen new and developing acts will be put through their paces by Sound Progression’s stellar team which includes veterans of the music industry to some of the UK’s hottest urban music producers.
They have been working towards a big platform event at Pride’s Big Weekend on Sunday 25th August, where all acts plus guest artists will be presented on the Community Stage, which will be managed entirely by young people. The line-up includes local indie bands Black3lvis, Y Sybs, Magic Bus, Parish and Tiger Bay, singer/songwriters Lily Beau and Sorley Rome, rappers Darnell Williams, Marrco, and Jordan&Gerald and country and blues singers Caitlin Mae and Jack R Garrett plus 16-year-old opera singer Arron Millar.
Black3lvis
Caitlin Mae and Lynise Esprit
Jordan&Gerald
Sorley Rome
Supported through the Arts Council of Wales National Lottery scheme and in partnership with the Youth Service, Pride Cymru and Buzz, the Academy nurtures a diverse range of artists and musicians from bands, singers, songwriters and rappers to music producers and engineers.
Sound Progression’s Company Manager, Carole Blade said, “Our aim is to bring young people together who have a passion for music and to create a shared experience by offering incredible opportunities to create, record and showcase their talents under one stage.” She added, “We are also offering places within our Academy for young people interested in media and stage management to join the acts during an intensive week at East Moors Youth Centre, Splott between 19-24 August.”
During the month-long preparations the Academy artists have also benefited from vocal coaching from The Voice 2016 finalist, Leighton Jones, and have been working with music students from Cardiff and Vale College to develop new, original live music.
The organisation’s chair Mike Johnson said, “The Academy represents a new development for Sound Progression who’s reignited programme of activity offers free – of – charge music provision to young people in Ely, Splott, Butetown and St Mellons. He added, “We have an eclectic mix of styles on offer across the music spectrum and aim for our Academy to be a progression route towards helping develop professional careers in the music industry.”
The showcase starts at midday on Sunday 25th August and will go onto 10pm. Tickets can be purchased through the Pride Cymru website at pridecymru.festivalpro.com.
For updates and how to get involved go to soundprogressionmusic.com Facebook/soundprogression or Twitter @SoundProgressi1
Main image: Lily Beau