A major new partnership has been announced between BBC Introducing and North East music leaders including The Glasshouse.
The BBC radio platform is joining forces with top local music venues and agencies to help support regional talent – and that means creating more opportunities to show it off. The partnership, announced this Wednesday morning, involves Gateshead‘s international music centre along with The Fire Station in Sunderland; Middlesbrough Town Hall; Tees Music Alliance and local music development agency Generator.
And, in what will be music to the ears of local performers, it was revealed that together they will open up opportunities to help artists and bands launch their careers, with help for instance to rehearse, play live gigs, record and develop ideas as well as create content for the BBC Music network. BBC Introducing supports musical talent across the UK and in the past Ed Sheeran and local favourites Sam Fender and The 1975 have been among the new, unsigned artists given radio play and a chance to build their audiences.
There are also BBC Introducing stages at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds festivals offering similar opportunities and it now will be adding a stage at the Stockton Calling festival in April. This is the national broadcaster’s first regionwide partnership to showcase emerging music and it brings a major creative boost not just to the independent music scene but also to the region.
And it’s already set for action. Regular ‘BBC Introducing From The Glasshouse’ gigs will get under way there on April 16; with the first featuring Lizzie Esau – billed as one of the most exciting emerging North East artists – who is already building her name through radio play and at slots including Glastonbury and BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend. The series will go on to feature three regional artists in pay-what-you-decide gigs and a live track from each will be uploaded to YouTube with songs available to share across the BBC Introducing network.
Kelly Betts, editor from BBC Introducing, said: “The music scene in the North East is hugely exciting and this partnership is our commitment to the artists. We’re creating steps from grassroots to national stages together from initiatives.” And through the likes of partners’ music showcases and performances at Stockton Calling she said this could lead to “one day maybe even Glastonbury!”
Wendy Smith, creative director at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music which this year celebrates a big anniversary, said: “As we celebrate our 20th birthday, this partnership shows our dedication to nurturing artists and creating opportunities for them to thrive in the North East. It’s an exciting step forward as we look to our third decade of making music accessible to all.”
The announcement follows a run of exciting news for the music centre which, as previously reported, includes the launch of partnerships with leading local artists and plans with Generator to establish a Newcastle-Gateshead ‘music city’. Wendy added of the latest development: “Linking with other brilliant North East independents to support the region’s musicians is the latest step to build on collaborations like Newcastle Gateshead Music City and Sonic Futures in the Tees Valley. We’re delighted that BBC Introducing are with us to platform artists on stage and through their broadcast channels.”
Sonic Futures is a programme designed to support Tees Valley’s live music venues, recording studios and talent development. Paul Burns, chief executive officer of Tees Music Alliance, said: “The partnership will pool the combined strengths of its members, which can only be a good thing for the artists that we’re all working with – allowing talent from all parts of the region to get onto the radar of key players in the music industry.”
Tamsin Austin, director at The Fire Station, said the venue is “100% committed” to supporting emerging artists and is “delighted” at its part in bringing BBC Introducing to Wearside”, while Kesia Bruce, general manager at Middlesbrough Town Hall, said it is “thrilled” to be continuing its championing of the North East music scene through the partnership.
Both venues have also previously worked with BBC Introducing but now is a chance to enjoy more of the spotlight. Kesia added: “We’re excited to see the enhanced opportunities we can provide for local artists through the combined strengths of a region-wide effort.”
Alice Fuller, deputy chief executive officer at Generator, thinks that “the BBC Music network has the potential to infiltrate all levels of the industry”, from regional support of emerging artists to global breakthroughs.
“Uniting the collective forces of North East music behind BBC Introducing gives artists in this region even more confidence to follow their dreams,” she added. “Getting them onto the BBC’s radar, and everything that could mean, is a hugely exciting development.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/bbc-introducing-teams-up-north-31029470
