Project launches to help budding musicians

Youngsters taking part in a Revolve Music Project workshop

A brand new music project has been set up in Rochdale to help budding musicians learn and develop music skills.

Revolve Music Project has been set up by Ste Hamer and Dameon Earnshaw who used to work at the Backdoor Music Project.

The pair, both 35-years-old, worked at Backdoor for 8 and 11 years respectively but due to recent changes decided to leave and set up on their own.

Mr Hamer said: “We left there and realised the best way to carry on doing the job we love is to have a go ourselves.”

Revolve, is based at Syke Community Base and recently secured funding to run a series of workshops with young people based on the subject of racism and cohesion.

The pair set up Revolve in mid July and have seen around 20 people per session take part in their first series of workshops where participants have produced a music track and lyrics about racism and cohesion. When the workshops finish the tracks will be compiled onto an album and each person will receive a copy.

“It is going well at the moment,” said Mr Hamer, “Things are happening and we are going with the flow and keeping our fingers crossed.

“We are hoping one day, if we get the funding, just to be here for young musicians to pop in and get a free recording.

“Eventually we hope to have a radio station to promote the bands, these are all ideas, we are overflowing with ideas and we will try our hardest to make them a reality.”

The pair are hoping to gain planning permission for a recording/multimedia studio at the Syke base.

“The plan now is to try and get funding and be a part of this community centre,” said Mr Hamer, “We are going to start writing funding bids and build up the rehearsal side of it.”

Revolve is likely to be reliant on funding but Mr Hamer said they are prepared to raise money through sponsorship events and band nights. “However we need to raise money we will go for it.”

He added: “We want to do workshops with young people in the community centre from Syke and anywhere in the borough of Rochdale.

“We are looking for bands for rehearsals, we want to get young bands in; we have got all our own equipment and we want to get a database together with competent musicians.”

To find out more, visit: http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/sites/revolve-music-project/intro