NEWS RELEASES
Horsham Music Week planned for early summer
3rd April 2007
It is often said that The Horsham District has a vibrant music scene and never lacks musical entertainment, with numerous pubs, clubs, restaurants, bars and halls holding a variety of gigs and concerts, ranging from choral recitals to death metal bands, jazz ensembles to recorder groups; and if you know where to look you can discover some real gems.
With this in mind, the Horsham District Live Music Alliance (HDLMA) have once again teamed up with Horsham District Council (HDC) to organise a Horsham Music Week dedicated to spreading the word about who, where and what the Horsham District has to offer musically.
The HDLMA and HDC will be taking a three-pronged approach to organising the event. The first involves compiling a comprehensive free brochure highlighting and advertising any music event occurring between Friday 22nd June and Sunday 1st July (This could range from a full on orchestra to a one man band busking in West Street). Some 12,000 copies will be produced and distributed throughout the District with details of participating bands, musicians, locations and times.
The second will see the HDLMA organising several gigs, including two acoustic nights at the Old Town Hall and the ever-popular Rock on the Bandstand, featuring some of the top local talent and offering a chance to kick back, relax and soak up the last of the evening sunshine in Horsham Park.
Finally, support will be offered, where possible, to other groups wanting to organise their own events. Plans are already underway by the Blue Flash Music Trust, who held the successful Community Day last year, and Acoustic Sussex to hold an all day event on the Forum featuring local musicians and performers. The HDLMA will be supporting this event with staging, sound equipment and personnel where needed.
Speaking on behalf of HDC and HDLMA, Arts Inclusive Officer Nick Jenkins said: ‘We organised a Horsham Music Festival in 2004 which proved hugely successful, with 32 bands playing across the town centre during the course of one day. However, for a variety of reasons, this format unfortunately proved unsustainable but the urge has always been there to do something similar’.
Anybody who has organised an event of any size knows the amount of effort that goes into making it a success. I think that the template the HDLMA are using for the Horsham Music Week is more manageable, offers the greatest opportunities for the most people, is more realistic and means that it has a chance of growing organically and establishing itself as an annual event’.
Anybody wanting to know more about the Music Week or wanting their gig or music event to be included in the brochure (this includes pubs holding open mic nights, jazz in a restaurant, or a full on hardcore metal night) should contact Nick on 01403 215216 or e-mail nick.jenkins@horsham.gov.uk
The Horsham District really does have some amazingly creative and inspiring musicians and bands. Hopefully this Music Week will offer a chance for everybody who wants to be involved to get involved, whether that’s performing on stage, moving equipment or just chilling out and listening.
Ends
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk