The Year 12 BTEC Music class organised, hosted and performed in a fantastic gig on Thursday 6 April. Taking place in the Tithe Barn, family, staff and schoolmates arrived en masse to support the musicians. The evening was a change of pace from the more formal concerts; the audience were standing, enjoying refreshments throughout the evening.
The gig was planned as part of the Year 12 BTEC coursework. A great deal of hard work had gone into confirming that everything ran smoothly; from booking the venue and getting all of the equipment together, to advertising the gig and ensuring that an exciting line-up was ready to entertain audiences, it was by no means an easy operation! However, the BTEC class rose to the occasion admirably and pulled off a fantastic gig. The evening was compered by Angus Munro, who introduced each act, and the bands were supported by Mr Byron Ward, who heads up the BTEC.
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Year 12 singer-songwriter James Grundy was first onstage, playing an original song which had echoes of Tom Odell, Paolo Nutini and James Bay. James played the guitar whilst he sang, and showed an immense talent and comfort onstage. Year 10 band Stranded were next onstage, made up of Freddie Fricker on drums, Jack Underwood on bass, Freddie Young on keys and Joe Rainer on guitar. Vocals were provided by Charlie Thomas and Michael Scanlon. The band sang Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 2006 hit, Danny California. Guitar aficionados Marcus Bagshawe and Quin Wagner-Piggott performed Can’t Stop by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, with Luke Mullins on vocals and Freddie Fricker on drums. Quin played a rendition of Dolly Parton’s hit Jolene, with Michael Scanlon on vocals. Mr Ward was on vocals for a toe-tapping rendition of Stevie Wonder’s hit I Wish. Juan Elkington then took over on bass, whilst Marcus was on guitar with Quin, for All Along the Watch Tower by Jimi Hendrix, with Mr Ward providing vocals. It was then time for the headline act; the Year 12 BTEC band. Fergus Howard-Jones was on keys, guitar and vocals; Robbie Rayne on drums; Juan Elkington on bass and Will Kidd on keys. Lucas Brooks provided the lead vocals for the set. The first song, My Number by Fools, saw Marcus Bagshawe support the group on guitar. The group then performed Trouble by Coldplay, before Fergus Howard-Jones took over vocals for Flame by Sundara Karma. Lucas Brooks was back on vocals for the final song of the evening, Another Love by Tom Odell.
The evening went off without a hitch. Mr Ward commented: ‘the pupils have worked really hard on this gig and so congratulations to them, and to all of the musicians who stepped in to make the evening run so smoothly!’