Community interest company Original Allstars Music, operating as the Shoreham Allstars, has been awarded a grant from Arts Council UK through the National Lottery foundation.
The grant will go towards upgrading the musical equipment for the collective (for gigs and for recording) and also towards funding the musical infrastructure of the free and much-loved Beach Dreams festival. Beach Dreams has been running since 2002 and this year takes place from 13th-15th June in Shoreham. It is being run by the Allstars along with other community interest companies.
The key project the grant is funding involves the members of the collective taking part in a series of events including playing gigs, recording and releasing their music and taking part in activities that will help them realise their value and potential as musicians. The project culminates in a performance for all the young bands on the main stage at the Shoreham Beach Dreams festival, and will be a fantastic way to finish the Arts Council-funded project.
Allstars founder Dave O’Connell said, “We are overjoyed with this news – big big thanks to the UK Arts Council for making it happen! The grant will help hugely in terms of upgrading our equipment – it will be the first equipment upgrade since 2015 – and giving us more avenues to pursue with our projects which include running festivals, playing gigs on mobile recording studios and generally giving young musicians the opportunities and positive experiences they deserve.
On top of this, it makes the graft, time and effort put into the Allstars project feel worthwhile as we feel validated and valued by a larger, more experienced and more established body than ourselves. This is an absolute, game changing result and we’re looking forward to getting going with our plans that can now happen because of the grant. Onwards and upwards!”
The Shoreham Allstars welcomes young musicians between 7 and 18 from across Sussex. Dave introduces complementary artists to one another and bands are formed with rehersals taking place in Shoreham. On average Allstars have two gigs per month all year round at fully established and respected venues along the South Coast.
The Allstars are putting on their 100th gig at the Duke of Wellington pub in Shoreham on Saturday 15th February. All are welcome to come along and support these talented young musicians – more details here: https://sussexlocal.net/event/live-at-the-welly-shoreham-allstars-gig/
Contact: shorehamallstars@hotmail.com
More info: https://shorehamallstars.co.uk
