THIS summer will once again see Livewire (the Music Pool’s youth music project funded by the National Foundation for Youth Music) running their music workshops for young people from 12 to 24 years old, in partnership with Hereford College of Arts from July 21 to 25.

Based at the Pavilion on the Castle Green in Hereford, Livewire will be bringing together individual musicians to create original works alongside Livewire music leaders. As well as creating their own original work, participants will have the opportunity to try out rapping, music production, DJ-ing and stagecraft, and develop a wide range of instrumental skills.

Bands will also be invited to Hereford College of Arts where they will have access to college facilities to develop their material and work on their rehearsal technique and stagecraft.

For all participants, the week will culminate in a performance at the Hereford College of Arts on the afternoon of Friday, July 25, a gig at The Jailhouse on Sunday, July 27, at which The Livewire Album 2014 will be launched, and performance slots at Nozstock festival available to the most dedicated acts.

The Livewire Album 2014 was recorded in April at KJM studios and features15 tracks, written and performed by 17 young local musicians, most of whom were in a professional studio for the first time. For others, including Another Band, Raye Harvey, Keren Lea Ashley, and Jessie Prentice, the album represents an important break after performing for some time, an opportunity to promote their music, and expand their musical experience and profile.

One of Livewire’s most popular acts, Another Band, who have two tracks on The Livewire Album, have been performing locally since October 2013 and now heads up Feedback Promotions - a project set up with Close House Youth Projects to promote youth gigs in Hereford.

Also on The Livewire Album is Raye Harvey who won the OMG Hereford competition earlier this year, commissioned by Herefordshire Music Service.

The album also features Alex Preece (otherwise known as ‘MC Potential’) who has been a member of Yam Jams for some time and has more recently started attending Livewire sessions. “Alex has gained enormously from the Livewire development weeks, with his rhymes gaining more maturity of style” said youth music project manager Jack Sibley. “He impressed everyone when he arrived at KJM studios and laid down his verse in the first take.”

The Livewire Album 2014 will be on sale at The Jailhouse gig for £10. It will then be available online at musicpool.org.uk on a ‘pay what you want’ basis, with an invitation to ‘donate’ to The Music Pool’s ‘Splash!’ Appeal.