EIGHT of West Wiltshire’s most talented youngsters, including Melksham performers, will perform a variety of pop, r’n’b, folk and rock at The Rachel Fowler Centre in Melksham for the annual Colerne Music Fund charity gig on Saturday 5th April.
The Colerne Music fund raises money throughout the year from a variety of musical events of all styles and distributes the profits to local musicians and organisations promoting music.
Getting this three-hour show together has led organiser Mel Austin to call upon teenagers from wider afield than the Melksham regulars who perform for him at The Pilot, Bowerhill, on the monthly music nights.
Last year’s TeenStar area finalist, Jordan Cooke, 14, from Melksham, who is a Pilot regular, as well as Courtney Buchanan, 16, and also from Melksham, are on the bill.
Courtney, a Melksham Oak student, was a finalist last July, losing out to The X-Factor’s Luke Friend in the O2 Final. She has already released a debut album and is about to start a regular weekend slot at The Pilot.
Izzy Felstead, from Sutton Benger, who has reached the area finals of this year’s national TeenStar competition, and is working on her debut album with Mel, will be joined by friend Mariah Foster for one number.
Chloe Turvey, 18, now at Bath College and with a place secured at The Bristol Institute Of Modern Music next year, plays in various bands around the area and most recently with Where’s Morocco? who are currently recording an ep. She will do a solo slot, as will the other ex-Melksham Oak graduate, 19-year-old Jordan Whatley, now at university, but still playing locally and at many of the UK’s most prestigious folk festivals. Jordan has been signed up for this year’s Village Pump Festival with stars such as Seth Lakeman.
Another who will be playing The Village Pump and Sidmouth Folk Festival later this year, is 16-year-old melodion player Bertie Wright from Bradford-on-Avon. Well known from gigs at Bradford Fringe, and local pub open mic slots, Bertie performs a mix of traditional English, Finnish and French folk.
Also from Bradford is 15-year-old Tom Vigar who is the co-founder of BOA Young Music. Singer/songwriter Tom recently played the Bradford Roots Festival and is taking part in St Lawrence School’s ‘Create The Show’ competition in March.
Completing the line-up is B-Side, a duo from Bath College led by Lauren Medway, 17, from Westbury Leigh, together with fellow student and guitarist Tom. Lauren reached the very first final of the Live&Unsigned national competition at the O2, when she was just 11 and has been performing locally for many years.
Mel Austin says, “Despite their tender years, these acts are of high quality and well worth the entry fee of £3. Some of the acts will have albums for sale on the night. The gig is being filmed by George Day and an edited version of the complete show will be available to order on the night.
Tickets are on sale from the performers and from Mel Austin (01225 705866) in advance, and on the door if not sold out.
