Photos courtesy of Derek Naylor, iFotoevents.

Major Music brought Christmas 2009 in with a big party bang last night with a live concert at St Donats Arts Centre. The festive atmosphere was kept alive throughout the night with all acts throwing in a little Christmas number into each set. A task which was set only a couple of weeks ago!

The line up consisted of Paranoid Androids, Septic Blue, Red (Rhiannon, Ellie and Dan), Breaking the Silence and Skate Ketchup all of which performed amazingly well last night, in particular some of the younger ones who performed for the first time on stage.  The night climaxed with the finale, pictured above, which had the whole venue rocking to Slades Merry Chrismas.
Everybody gave fantastic performances and proved that the last few weeks of preparation have been well worth while. Well done all!

More pics of the night can be viewed here.

Following on from the success of last years show Xmas Rocks is back again . The evening is a show piece event for all the Major Music Bands and will feature special guest bands in the line up which will be announced shortly.

Major Music meets every Tuesday evening between 7.00pm and 9.00pm at the Llantwit Major Youth Centre.

Major Music was buzzing at the last  session on Tuesday 17th November with everyone putting their very best into rehersals for the show on the 4th December. Christmas certainly came early with echos of Chris De Burgh – A Spaceman Came Travelling, Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody and even a ‘punked up’ version of Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You.  So come on everyone get your friends and family to come down to St Donats to a great show. Purchasing tickets is easy, here is a reminder…

Friday 4th December – 7:30pm
St Donats Arts Centre
An Evening of Live local Musical Talent
Tickets £4.00
Available from St Donats Arts Centre
or call: 01446 799100

If there is any one else interested in playing on the night let us know at the next Major Music Session or send us an email.

Tickets £4 – available from St Donats Arts Centre or on the door on the night.

Bar open till 11pm!

The evening event noted the ‘relaunch’ of the project at the centre and the purpose built music recording studio, was hailed as an overwhelming success by the project management team and volunteers who have remained committed throughout to this unique community based initiative. The youth centre was packed to capacity and attended by young people, parents, friends, sponsors and supporters of the project. Also present were Vale and local Councillors, officers from the Vale of Glamorgan Council and AM – Jane Hutt. A number of young people involved with Major Music gave terrific demonstrations of their musical creativity and which included several acoustic sets, ‘rock’ bands and live sessions in the studio. In opening the evening local businessman, mentor and trustee with Major Music, Chris Williams thanked all those who had continued to support the project during the interim period. Chris making particular reference to his trustee colleagues, volunteers and parents and without who’s commitment and dedication the project would not have achieved it’s ongoing success.

Jane Hutt commended the work of the project and stating, ‘ Major Music provides fantastic opportunities for our young people to get involved with music together, with the support of parents, volunteers and music mentors/tutors. They performed so well this evening at the Youth Centre – with confidence and skill. It is great to see the recording studio being utilised and the increasing numbers of young people getting involved’. Also in attendance was Vale Council Head of Lifelong Learning and Development, Dave Prosser who commented, ‘ Major Music enhances the opportunities available to young people. It is great to see so many young people demonstrating their musical talents’.

Terry Bright  was present for the evenings extravaganza and congratulated those involved  on a very impressive and well attended relaunch and adding, ‘it is wonderful to see young musicians with so much talent and enthusiasm given the opportunity to spread their wings in such a well equipped and controlled environment. I am confident that this will be the beginning of many careers in the music industry. Well done Major Music’.

The weekly workshops will now continue at the Youth Centre on a Tuesday evening between 6.30 & 9.00pm., and with those young people wishing to attend welcome to register at the sessions(s). Consideration is also being given in the future to recommencing the highly successful Minor Music workshops. More updated information can be accessed on this site.
Events are now also already being scheduled to celebrate Major Music’s tenth anniversary in 2010 – keep watch here and the local press.

Major Music and it’s team are keen to recruit new volunteers/mentors, sponsors and supporters for the project. Feel free to contact hello@majormusic.net or Phil Kirkham direct on: 01446-792543

The past months have noted the restructure of the Major Music management team, accessing the skills and experiences of a number of business people and others involved with the music industry and including long term sponsors of the project, Roland (UK). A new Heads of Terms Licence/Operational Agreement has been drawn up between Major Music and the Vale of Glamorgan Council and in clarifying roles and associated responsibilities in the delivery of this unique service to young people.

Although not having been at the Youth Centre/Studio for a number of months now, the work of the project has continued and having been supported by the MOD in accessing one of it’s resources at nearby St. Athan.

Co-founder and chairman of Major Music, Phil Kirkham commended the support, commitment and ongoing dedication given to the project over the past months by his fellow trustees and those other volunteers who’s tireless energy has enabled the project to continue it’s weekly workshops and hosting a number of other events in the local community and further afield. Phil additionally expressed his appreciation to the young people who had continued to support the project and the assistance given by a number of parents.

In returning to the Youth Centre/Studio the project workers and mentors are keen to try new ideas and in offering those young people attending the opportunity for even greater creativity and in perhaps breaking away from the traditional ‘rock’ often associated with Major Music. Trustee and mentor with Major Music, Chris Williams commented that lot’s of young people had expressed an interest to do more acoustic guitar work and coupled to song writing and recording. Chris stated, ‘ in our return to the Youth Centre and studio we are keen to respond to the requests of young people and filling the gap in delivering a valuable community resource. Furthermore, we are also in the process of totally refurbishing our website – making it more interactive and again in response to the requests made by a number of young people and consultation exercises undertaken’.

Phil went on to say that, “the 6^th October will effectively be used for the relaunch of the project back in Llantwit Major and in giving young people the opportunity to come along to the Youth Centre from 7.00pm onwards, to see bands recording in the studio and other acoustic performances, and for those who are interested the opportunity to register.” A number of local and Vale councillors, sponsors and supporters will also be present and again giving their ongoing support to this exciting community initiative for young people.

A number of events are already being planned to take place during 2010 and in marking the tenth anniversary of Major Music.

Major Music and it’s team welcome the opportunity for new volunteers/mentors, sponsors and supporters for the project and who should contact Phil on: 01446-792543. Alternatively, please feel free to come along to the Llantwit Major Youth Centre on Tuesday 6^th October from 7.00pm. onwards… it’ll be great to meet you!