Thanks to everyone who took part last night.

Here’s my write-up -

Sandy Battle 9 July 2011

Don’t forget to come up to Great Gransden on Wednesday next (6th). Free entry. Good beer. Amazing music, from . . .

Phil Hunt

Debbie Hipgrave

Will Day

Paul Currell

Jennifer Hunt

Maycock’s Minstrals

Dael Brookes

The Hunt sisters

Ashley Smith

Andy Clenaghan

Emma Simmonite

Gamlingay Records update

There’s a lot going on at the country’s only Community Record Label at the moment.

We have two albums due out shortly

A Thousand Sins, the winners of last year’s Battle of the Bands, are due to release their debut album during July. A launch party and gig is being arranged shortly as well as other live dates. The album will be available for sale and if you like metal you really should give it a try. If you don’t like metal, why not give it a try anyway and support the local music scene and the record label?!

Volume 2, the label’s first acoustic album is also due out shortly (dates to be confirmed). This is a compilation featuring label members and friends of the label and will include acoustic guitars, some acoustic rap as well as some more unusual folk instruments – Northumberland pipes and the Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle.

Volume 1, the label’s first release,  a rock, rap and pop compilation featuring bands and soloists is still available to buy at the labels gigs or directly from label members.

Gigs

Volume 2 has been inspired by a series of successful acoustic nights at the Queen’s Head in Sandy and The Crown and Cushion in Great Gransden. Both of these followed a fantastic evening at the Cock in Gamlingay to raise money for the Haiti earthquake. By the time you read this we will have run our 5^th night at the Crown and Cushion and will be planning our 6^th. Entry is free. We are always looking for new acts to perform and new venues to play in, so if you are feeling like you want to give it a go, talk to Phil (see below for contact details)

Battle of the Bands

As many of you will know, with the massive support from an army of volunteers, we have staged four annual Battle of the Bands competitions in Gamlingay since 2007. We have been asked to organise a Youth Battle of the Bands in Sandy on 9^th July for bands of under 18s in order to raise money for Great Ormond Street children’s charity. This competition will be held in the Conservative Club in Sandy.

We also anticipate organising, later in the year, our 5^th anniversary Gamlingay Records Battle of the Bands. Those of you who have helped or attended will know what a great night this is, and we hope that this year’s will carry on with that tradition.

Further information on all of the above is available from our website www.GamlingayRecords.org.uk, which is updated regularly.

Get involved

If you want to get involved with the label, please contact Phil Hunt on 01767 650074, Wayne or Debbie Hipgrave on 01767 651441, Chris Shillam on 01767 650862, Jay Roberts on 07432 617042… or any other label members, who can be contacted via the website. We are particularly looking for young people with an interest in marketing, business or media to join us and help with our various plans.

On Saturday 9th July we are running a battle of the bands competition for under-18s in Sandy. Visit the Sandy Youth Battle of the Bands pages to find out more.

The Crown and Cushion in Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire, plays host again to their 5th Gamlingay Records Acoustic night.

You can be assured of ukelele’s, guitars, maybe a bass, a violin, some bagpipes or even a Hardanger Fiddle . . . as well as some unaccompanied voice (if we can persuade Debbie and or Emma).

There is no charge to get in and children are welcome. Feel free to bring an instrument and take part. Talk to Phil if you want to book a slot . . .

Confirmed so far…

• Just William and the Outlaws
• Alexis Lloyd (antibiotics permitting…)
  
• Simon Dean
• Phil Hunt
• Wayne Hipgrave (and crew)
  
• Will Day
• Paul Currell
• Jennifer Hunt
• Matt White
  Jay, Jack and Boxman …..

Anyone else care to join?

Thanks to those who came to the acoustic night last night at the Crown and Cushion. A quieter one than the previous two, but great fun. Thanks particularly to Simon, Wayne and Debbie, the Hunt sisters, Jen and, erm, me for playing. Oh and the lady whose name I don’t know who sang we’ll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy.

We have another night booked on 1st June. Contact Phil if you want to play

Work has started on the recording of a new acoustic album – working title “Volume 2″. A recording session planned for Wednesday has had to be postponed, but has been re-scheduled for next week.

The album will feature artists on the label and guests, but the full line up is a closely guarded secret . . . watch this space for more information

Smoking Aces (www.myspace.com/smokingaces666)
require a bass player. must be 100% dedicated with own gear and transport. looking to tour in the summer and currently recording our ep ideas ready for the main ep release.
we are a rock/punk/sleaze band and are ready to rock!!
hit me up on whitehendrixhere|hotmail.com if interested.

Turntables, guitars, bass and drums wanted. Check-out this link.

Melissa Reynolds presents Phil with the award for Gamlingay Records

Gamlingay Records was awarded a South Cambridgeshire Arts Award at a ceremony on 30th March. The awards were made on behalf of the council for local arts development groups.

There were 18 category winners at the award ceremony and some fantastic performances from local artists and dancers. There were dignitaries by the champagne flute-full, with cake and canapés and a red carpet. Have a look at the winners here http://www.start-arts.org.uk/2011/03/31/chairmans-arts-awards-2011/

Phil Hunt was presented with the award by Melissa Reynolds, which was given for Enterprise. As the only Community Record Label in the country, dedicated to promoting and providing opportunities for local talent to develop, we were recognised for helping local young people and putting on our AMAZING annual Battle of the Bands each year.

This year’s will be the 5th anniversary Battle and we hope it will be in Gamlingay’s new Eco-hub Community Centre. Big Battle. Details will be posted here soon.

We can also confirm that we will be running an additional under 18s Battle of the Bands in Sandy on July 9th to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Jasmine (front middle) toasting the winners . . .