Britten Pears Arts

On Thursday 29 August, a stage was built on the Henry Moore lawn for an afternoon of outdoor music performances called Bandstand Remastered.

The afternoon was co-created and co-produced with a group of five young people from across Britten Pears Arts activities including Aldeburgh Young Musicians, Celebration, Group A and our Holiday Activity and Food Programme. Their ideas shaped the whole event, from programming the acts to designing the advertising materials. The event also welcomed stalls from arts organisations, Suffolk Libraries and Suffolk Music Hub, local small businesses, art and craft activities, and face painting. The event was hugely well attended, with audiences relaxing in the sun on deck chairs and hay bales to enjoy the music, and even getting up on their feet to dance and sing along with the acts!

We spoke to two of the young people, Katie and Rihanna, to hear their thoughts on the day.

What was the most exciting or memorable moment you experienced during "Bandstand Remastered"?

Katie: My favourite moment during Bandstand Remastered was the morning of the event when we finally could see our hard work pay off. It was really exciting, even though we didn't know what to fully expect.

Rihanna: Seeing Will Power in person

How would you describe "Bandstand Remastered" to someone who has never heard of it before?

K: I would describe Bandstand Remastered as a family music event that has something for everyone. It is really exciting and fun to attend as you can see such a diverse range of performances in just one day.

R: To describe it, it's a project run by young people who are organising an event.

How did you first get involved with "Bandstand Remastered"? What interested you about the project?

K: I was invited to do Bandstand Remastered via Britten Pears Arts after working with The Red House for a while. It immediately sparked interest as organising a music event was such a cool opportunity that I most likely would not get to do at my age otherwise. I love music myself, and I've always been interested in what happens behind all the events you get to see.

R: I was first introduced to it through Group A and asked to be added to the list.

What do you think was the main goal of "Bandstand Remastered"? Why was it important to you and the community?

K: I felt it was important as a young people led project to be able to organise an event that young people in Suffolk would not usually get to see everyday. Especially given we live in a small rural area, being able to showcase such different acts in a place like Snape was really important to me.

R: Bandstand Remastarted's primary objective was to give families a free and enjoyable day out. For me, it was a chance to gain insight into the organisation of an event.

Can you tell us a little about your role in the project? What were your main responsibilities?

K: During the co-production, all the young people involved were responsible for suggesting acts to perform, suggesting what type of stalls we wanted there and how to promote the event. On the day, we shadowed different areas such as backstage tech, media and comms. We all also got to do some presenting which I personally enjoyed alot.

R: My first role was in media/comms, and the responsibilities of this job were to capture pictures of the acts, then we went into the office to edit them and upload them to social media. My second role was in tech/backstage, and the responsibility was to check the sounds. Gareth checked the sounds.

How did your group work together to bring this project to life? What was it like collaborating with others?

K: Collaborating with others in the group was so enjoyable. It felt like we were all so passionate about the event. We all put forward ideas going in to the event, and were able to settle on what acts and stalls we wanted to see. We all had different interests too, so it was cool to see how our ideas all came together.

R: Regular meetings were held, some in person and some on Zoom. And then on the day we were divided into groups and had a timetable.

What were some of the standout moments for you during the project? Did anything happen that you'll never forget?

K: I will never forget watching the crowd while Will Power was performing. Everyone was having such a great time and it was insane to think I contributed to that, and it honestly made me quite emotional!

R: One of the mentors recounted an incident where he made a mistake when announcing something to the audience, which made us all laugh and left a lasting impression.

Was there a particular part of the project that you found especially rewarding or challenging?

K: I think I found the planning for the acts the most rewarding. It was a slight challenge trying to find people at first, but once done, it was the most direct display of the young people working behind the project.

R: Due to my Chronic Fatique Syndrome, I was exhausted at the end of it.

How do you feel about the final version of "Bandstand Remastered"? What was your reaction when you saw the finished product?

K: I was so thrilled about how the event turned out. It was so amazing to see how it turned out after all our work, and was honestly quite shocked about how busy it got at times!!

R: The atmosphere was amazing, and I felt like it had been successful.

How did others (like your friends, family, or the community) react to the project? Did anything about their reactions surprise you?

K: My family came to support the event and they all had an amazing time! I also got to speak with some young people who attended and everyone I spoke to said they really enjoyed the event.

R: My family and friends were very supportive of my participation in this project and how it affected my mental health.

What impact do you think "Bandstand Remastered" has had on the community or on you personally?

K: I think the event really helped showcase some performers from our area. I think it also opened a lot of people up to new styles of music and performance atypical of what you would usually expect from Snape Maltings.

R: The manner in which it brought families together.

How has being part of this project influenced you personally? What skills or insights did you gain?

K: Being part of this project has taught me a lot about organising and planning events like this. It as made me more confident and I've learnt so much about the type of work it takes to organise an event like this.

R: I have gained inspiration from the fact that it's not just about singing, but also from the fact that there are numerous job possibilities.

Did this experience change your perspective on anything? How has it shaped your future goals or aspirations?

K: The experience has really opened my eyes to the things I could be doing in the future as I really enjoyed the experience and would love to pursue similar things in the future.

R: It's important to note that the industry involves more than just getting up and performing.

Looking back, what are you most proud of from your work on "Bandstand Remastered"?

K: I am most proud of the fact I contributed to such a successful and positive event that brought any people a lot of joy.

R: Achieved success

What's the biggest lesson you learned from working on this project?

K: The biggest thing I have learnt is to be confident and not be afraid to share my ideas.

R: Working on this project has taught me about the importance of teamwork and the importance of hard work.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank for supporting you throughout the project?

K: I would like to thank everyone who made it possible, especially Tilly, Kristen and Carnell. It was so much fun thanks to them.

R: Tilley, Sophia, Kristin, and Carnell are all the people I want to thank.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about getting involved in a project like this?

K: I would say definitely do it!! There is so much to learn in all the elements that go into projects like this. There's something to do for everyone and it's really fun and rewarding to be a part of.

R: It's a great experience in different aspects acquiring different techniques and working together as a team.

Photos by: Harry Clark