New You Tube Channel for Make Waves

Make Waves, which provides music making opportunities in Hastings, Bexhill and the surrounding areas has a brand new You Tube Channel! Click here to view: http://www.youtube.com/user/MakeWavesBands

Videos currently on the channel include Contact Point and Last To Know performing at the Make Waves Awards 25/03/11 and also Last To Know playing at the Red Nose Gig 19/03/11

New music rehearsal space unveiled in Hastings

Budding young musicians in Hastings are set to benefit from new state-of-the-art music facilities which were unveiled by music celebrity Feargal Sharkey last Friday.

The Hollington Music Rehearsal Space is a Government-funded project developed by East Sussex County Council and partner organisations including Hastings Borough Council. Its aim is to increase young people's access to music, help them engage with learning and form a thriving musical community in the area.

Based at the Hollington Youth Centre in Hastings, the provision boasts a brand new rehearsal room, a further practice room and a large selection of musical instruments. Through additional funding received from children's charity Youth Music, it will offer a broad range of activities to help develop young people's musical skills.

Led by professional musicians, activities include workshop and taster sessions focusing on different types of music and instruments. Centre users will also benefit from mentoring, have the opportunity to take part in accredited training, attend open rehearsal sessions and develop and record music demos. And the sessions will help prepare them for delivering live performances of their work at other music venues in the town.

To read the full article, click here.

Feargal Sharkey is CEO of UK Music, an umbrella organisation representing the collective interests of the UK's commercial music industry. For more information click here.

The new musical rehearsal space at the Hollington Youth Centre was developed by East Sussex County Council with support from Hastings Borough Council, the Greater Hollington Association, national music charity Youth Music and music workshop provider Rhythmix.

Coastal Currents 11th Annual Arts Festival 2010

Hastings, St Leonards and Rother
28 August – 30 September

Coastal Currents 2010 (Tracing Hastings) will create a trail of interventions, exhibitions and events that link the communities of Hastings and Rother. Tapping into the unique heritage of the coastal location, the festival will encourage residents to rediscover their area and visitors to explore new locations.

Redundant outdoor spaces, parks, gardens, the beach, heritage sites, empty shops and non-art venues will be transformed by local, regional and international artists through the exciting new visual arts project Place, which includes the commissioning of twenty five new art works. Coastal Currents provides an opportunity for artists, residents and visitors to explore and celebrate the towns' thriving creative communities.

In addition, the festival includes many other weekly artists’ tours, exhibitions, open studios, performances and events.

For more details visit the website: www.coastalcurrents.org.uk