On Sunday 11th July, 2010, six students from London’s Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) took to the stage at the magnificent Somerset House in central London to open the show for Mobo and Brit award-winning N-Dubz as part of the ‘What Next?’ project in front of 3,000 people. The following weekend, the students took their performances to the stage at the highly-acclaimed Lovebox Festival in London’s Victoria Park.
The ‘What Next?’ project invited 30 young people from across London and with varied musical backgrounds to collaborate in workshops that focused on writing new music to perform live on the Somerset House and Lovebox stages. Music industry professionals provided guidance and mentoring in songwriting and performance. The ICMP was approached by the project’s organiser to help provide backing musicians for the vocalists and MCs who performed.
The closing song of the performances was a powerful political message about uniting London. It resonated with the young crowd as they were obviously engaged and really got behind their peers, singing the chorus and displaying a genuine passion for the capital city, a refreshing change and a statement of reassurance for many a cynical Londoner.
Students from the ICMP included Remi Aguilella (drums), Chris Attwell (bass), Jack Daubney (bass), James Neye (guitar), Tom Smith (guitar) and Vincenzo Gioia (guitar). |
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