Dancing in the streets at music project launch

2:30pm Thursday 4th September 2008

By Adrianne Maslen

LYME Regis was buzzing with the Sound of Summer on Saturday in a new young people's music festival.

It was the launch of Lyme Youth Art's (LYA) new music project B Sharp, which saw around 1,500 people turn out to watch young musicians perform in the open-air event in Theatre Square.

Following Saturday's launch, the project will include music-making workshops over the next 18 months.

The aim of the project is to bring people together and to provide young people with a platform to showcase their talent.

Acts from Lyme Regis, Seaton, Bridport, Axminster, Uplyme and Brighton included Lyme's Coco and the Crips, the Woodroffe School's Taiko Drummers and Axminster's Jack Verhaeren.

Project manager Fran Williams said at its busiest there was an audience of 300 people, making it a hugely successful event' and one she felt should be repeated. "The event was proof of what can be done with young people if we work together," she said.

"The team of volunteers, stage and sound crew, worked so hard to make this event happen and produced a quality event for people of all ages to enjoy. There were elderly people clapping to the rap and rhythm of Ways of The Mouth from Bridport, through to dancing later in the evening to Stalking Tyler and Les Ouefs.

"This launch of B Sharp was an incredible start to the music project. It was great to look around and see so many different smiling faces.

"The mayor Sally Holman spoke after the Taiko drummers from The Woodroffe School opened the event. She was supportive and celebrated the day, saying how much this sort of thing is needed in Lyme."

Ken and Pam Middleton, of Sherborne Lane, enjoyed the good mix of music genres. "This should happen more often in Lyme. More, more, more of this please," they said.

Now the challenge really begins for the B Sharp team, which is looking forward to the workshops, but desperately need more sponsors and donations.

The team wishes to thank the young people who helped, the LYA committee, sponsors Youth Music and the town and district councils, the Marine Theatre, Ledgers Scaffolding for providing a free stage, Travis Perkins, Kraken boat trips and Alison Bright.

Anyone aged between 13 and 25 who would like to join an event or workshop should contact Fran Williams on franwilliams@lymeregis.com or 07968 177663. Visit the website www.bsharp.uk.com