BUC Updates

British Urban Collective - A word from the long road

A few words from the team as we move into post-production

After eight months on the road around the UK, the British Urban Collective youth music project moves into post-production phase in preparation for the project’s national CD/DVD release in spring 2009.

The national youth music project that turns inner city kids into rising stars of the music industry auditioned over 900 people nationwide, and more than 150 aspiring young artists and producers completed the project in Hull, Manchester, Belfast, Glasgow and London, recording a staggering 80 tracks of original music along the way.

Local film crews have also produced five documentaries, four music videos and a feature-length Hipopera based on Dante’s Inferno!

New recording studios have been built at The Warren in Hull, UEW in Manchester, Windsor Women’s Centre / GVRT in Belfast and FARE in Glasgow and they are in constant use, providing the community with more experienced producers and artists every day.

Harry Leckstein, project founder and director, said: "Thank you to everyone who has enabled and worked on this project. It’s been a fantastic journey. The staff and volunteers at each community centre we visited are the real warriors of this country, battling with ever-decreasing resources to make a positive difference for people in need of shelter, education, counselling or just a cup of tea and a chat.

“And the young artists we’ve met and recorded are truly inspiring – as you’ll see and hear early next year when the album and documentaries are released.

“Across the country Urban Collective bands, artists and producers are busy writing, recording, promoting and playing live thanks to British Urban Collective:

Hull Urban Collective are on to their seventh sponsored residential live night at Durty Nelly’s and played in front of 5,000 people in Queen’s Gardens for Love Music Hate Racism in August

Belfast Urban Collective have their own committee, bank account and two residential live nights at The Bunker and Pavilion

Manchester are gearing up to play Manchester Peace Week in November while two artists are now employed providing MC workshops

Glasgow drew more than 300 people to their two opening gigs at Platform Theatre and Barfly just a few weeks ago

London Urban Collective’s Hipopera Inferno has debuted on the stage at Stratford Circus, premiered at Odeon Holloway Road and had its first national TV broadcast on Community Channel (see repeat performances on Community Channel, Sky 539).

Looking back over the past year, Harry adds: "It’s the network created that inspires me the most when I see it in action – artists from Hull visiting Glasgow and writing songs together, members of Manchester Urban Collective flying out to Belfast, artists from London spending a week recording in Hull – this is the real reward of the project. I’ve seen communities connect organically across the country through a common creative goal; it’s happening and will continue to grow with your help, enabling projects like Urban Collective to take root and develop.

“So from all the Collective’s nationwide – thank you for making this happen and watch this space …”

For more information on British Urban Collective visit: http://www.britishurbancollective.com.

To book any British Urban Collective artist for live performance please email: harry@freeportecords.com.

04.11.08