CALLING ALL EMERGING PROFESSIONAL ROCK, POP and JAZZ MUSICIANS!

Posted: Friday 27 April 2012

Live Music Now supports up-and-coming bands and musicians at the start of their careers by providing them with paid performance opportunities in venues they wouldn't normally have the opportunity to visit, playing for a wide array of audiences. The charitable organisation is the largest provider of live music to the UK’s welfare, educational, justice and health sectors and brings great live music to those in society whose access to music is restricted.

There are currently 32 bands and ensembles on the Live Music Now scheme in Scotland, including pop and rock groups, singer-songwriters, a jazz quartet, operatic singers, classical chamber ensembles and Scottish traditional music groups. These groups perform to all sorts of audiences including children and young people who are vulnerable, at risk or with additional needs, young people and adults in the justice system, adults with learning and physical disabilities and older people in care.

The Bill Fleming Quartet have been on the scheme since February 2010 and have performed across Scotland and Internationally.

‘Our relationship with Live Music Now has enabled us to develop as an ensemble through performances in a variety of contexts from concert halls to care homes, festivals to extended jazz education work.

The support network at LMN not only arranges for paid professional performances, but offers professional development opportunities, giving us the opportunity to learn more about marketing, stage craft and even how to fill in your tax return!

The scheme has also been an enriching experience for the Quartet through our performances in community settings. Getting the chance to meet and to play to audiences from a wide social spectrum, many of which are dealing with challenging circumstances, and seeing first-hand the enjoyment they get from our visits has been inspiring.’ Paul Tracey, Guitarist, Bill Fleming Quartet.

“Do it! Not only is LMN a fantastic source of income at a critically important time when starting amusical career, but more importantly, it provides unbelievable experiences of raw music makingthat get right to the heart of what it means to perform and be a performing musician."
LMN musician

At June’s auditions LMN is seeking out rock, pop and jazz musicians who would like to expand their performance experience, earn professional rates, gain support and training to develop their skills and, most importantly, bring the thrill of live music to those across the community.

Since their successful audition in February 2010, Stirling-based pop band Miniature Dinosaurs have given over 60 performances and workshops, including residencies at Donaldson’s,Scotland’s national school for children with hearing and communication disorders and many creative music-making projects for children in foster care.

‘We’ve had a fabulous time with Live Music Now over the past two years and got so much from the work that we’ve done in ways that we would never have imagined. We’d recommend it most highly for any bands who, like us, are starting their gigging careers and keen to get as much experience playing together as possible.’ Barry McLean, Miniature Dinosaurs

For further information, contact Daniella Keenan 07736 457 660 daniella.keenan@livemusicnow.org
www.livemusicnow.org

Tags: Indie, Jazz and Blues, Rock and pop