Shetland Arts Trust is set to commence its annual programme of youth music workshops and youth gigs, entitled ‘Solid Rock’, which will again run over the winter months throughout Shetland.

The programme, promoted in conjunction with Shetland Islands Council’s Community Services Division, aims to support and develop young rock bands, especially those just being formed or those already established.

A number of workshops, followed by live youth gigs, will be promoted throughout Shetland over the coming months. These will take place in the south, west and north mainland, the northern isles and Lerwick.

The workshops aim to assist young bands to develop their creative and music-related technical skills on a number of levels, as well as focusing on issues such as performance, on-stage communication and stage presence. More inexperienced bands will be offered workshops on basic creative and technical issues, while more experienced units will have the opportunity to enhance their existing skills, undertake demo recording sessions as part of intensive musical ‘away-weekends’ and undertake a range of workshops in the use of samples, PC based recording skills and other musical / technical skills..

The first workshop will be held in Sandwick on Saturday the 26th November in the Youth Club from 1pm to 6pm. Any young bands, especially those from the south mainland area, are welcome to take part. Fees for the workshops are £3 per head.

The workshops will be followed by a youth gig in the Carnegie Hall, Sandwick featuring the Juvenile Delinquents. Amnesia, Hidden Agenda, The Rockies, Point of Impact, Kurruption and Band X. The gig runs from 7pm – 11pm and entry is £3 on the door, however it will be a total of £5 per head for both the workshops and gig combined. The event is unlicensed and everyone is welcome.

Anyone wishing to take part in future workshops should contact either their area youth workers, Davie Gardner at Shetland Arts Trust on (01595) 694001 or Russell Gair via their school.

For further information contact Davie Gardner on (01595) 694001 or 07748-153-574.