Strode Music Students Perform Unplugged for Eavis

Music lovers braved the ice in late December to attend an eclectic and diverse evening of unplugged performances from Strode BTEC Music students at Pilton Working Men's Club.  The students provided over two hours of largely original material, and were delighted to see local music legend Michael Eavis popping in to enjoy the music and say hello.

Jorden Lindsay, who lives in Yeovil, performed a brilliant solo set of self-written pieces for vocals and acoustic guitar, as well as fronting the popular local act 'JackFlash' who performed an unusual acoustic set to the enthusiastic audience.

 "It was great to get the opportunity to play my own songs and to know that a legend like Michael Eavis was listening.  There's a great atmosphere at the club and it was great to be able to play there' said Jorden.

The gig was organised and promoted by the Strode students as part of a course project.  In particular Sid Taylor who lives in Pilton, who closed the evening with the cool sounds of his jazz combo 'Taylor Made'.  "'The course at Strode gives us a real feeling of what it's like to begin working in the music industry.  For this project we have to decide where to play, develop and promote our acts, book the venues and do all the health and safety and stuff" said Sid.

The students will be playing several more concerts around the area to complete their project.  As well as Jordan, Jack Flash and Taylor Made, acts to look out for who also performed were: Hollie Trevis and Ollie Proud, 'Reinstate Sarah', Zach Urch, Chelsea Paget and Chris Cox with Jake Stone and Jake Rayment.

Strode Students in Channel 4’s Skins

Strode Performing Arts and Media students recently took part in filming for the new series of Channel 4's Skins, a teenage drama which follows a group of Bristol sixth form students. Thirty five students travelled to Filton College in North Bristol for a full day of filming.  They will be on screen as extras in the new series which begins this month on E4.

Georgie Underwood, who lives in Bleadney near Wells, is studying Dance, Drama, Media and Film A levels at Strode College.  She said: "We had a great day being part of 'Skins' and we learnt that as well as acting, filming involves a lot of standing around, retakes from different angles, and attention to detail and continuity.  For the first few shots we were a little nervous, but things calmed down and we started to enjoy it.  The production team were really friendly and professional. "

"Our first scene took us four hours to do, and it will only take up about four minutes in the episode.  In the scene the main characters return to college, with some of us 'dressing' the set and others walking through the scene.  Later in the day we were in a scene where students arrive for a new school day.  Kerri Bruce (of Yeovil) and Hannah McCarthy (of Shepton Mallet) got a small part in this scene as 'fit girl 1 and 2'.  They had to walk past a car and laugh at one of the main characters as he got out of it. "

John Oram, Strode College's Drama Lecturer said "Our BTEC Broadcast Media students and Performing Arts students really enjoyed this experience.  They worked alongside professional actors and technical crew and it was a fantastic opportunity for them to find out about the hard work that goes into making TV Dramas.  They also learnt the discipline of performing to camera and the balance between long periods of waiting around and then intense moments of activity.  We are hoping to work with the production company again at a later date."