Read an update below on CultureDale's Youth Music Takeover from Andy Abbott. See the current summer Gig Listings from Calderdale Grassroots Music Network by clicking here - including the upcoming Youth Music Programme events!

As part of the CultureDale Youth Music Takeover programme I had the great pleasure of hosting a 'Calderdale Do-It-Together Bootcamp' that brought together a group of 16 to 19 year-olds to form a music collective that will be the next generation of cultural activists in the grassroots music scene. The group includes emerging musicians, promoters, and technicians from across Calderdale. 

Throughout March and April we visited grassroots music venues in the borough and heard from the venue owners, program managers, bookers, committees, technicians and behind the scenes workers who shared their journeys, tips and advice, and opportunities to get involved locally. We also met with independent record label operators, festival curators, designers, studio owners and other people in the wider music industry.  

Each visit and session was varied and bespoke, but the overall takeaway was that you don't need to wait to get involved, and that the grassroots music scene, especially here in Calderdale, is excited to support and work with young people however it can, and retain, develop and grow the wealth of talent that exists here. 

The group have pulled together a programme of events throughout May, June and July. It's an impressive range of events that the members are involved in as musicians, promoters, technicians or sometimes, in true DIY fashion, all three. We've highlighted these in a special edition of the Calderdale Grassroots Music Network gig listings and hope to be revealing more about the future plans for the collective soon. Keep an eye out here and the CultureDale site to follow their journey!

Andy Abbott