Love Music Hate RacismEver fancied putting on your own music event?

Unite and Love Music Hate Racism have put on a number of joint events at Universities aimed at raising local awareness about racism in society. Music is a great way to bring people together.

For more information on how to have a LMHR event at your University visit www.lovemusichateracism.com/yourevent/

 

Love Music Hate Racism audio & video clips

 

Battle of the Bands June 2006

In May of 2005 Amicus staged a Battle of the Bands competition at Brighton's Concorde 2 for young unsigned talent. Competition winner's local band Turncoat went on to play Glastonbury's Left Field stage as part of their prize.

The event was such a success that last year Amicus held a National competition with regional heats in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff, Nottingham and Brighton.

The tour kicked off in Cardiff on May 10th at The Point in Cardiff Bay, followed by events at Concorde 2 in Brighton, Ivory Blacks in Glasgow, the HiFi Club in Leeds, Live Café in Manchester and Rock City in Nottingham.

The competitions aims were to highlight to young people their rights in the workplace and how being a member of a union can protect them.

The six finalists travelled down to London on 5 July for the final.

Indie rock five-piece The Jan Watkins Band from Cardiff won the title Amicus Band of Britain. The gig which was due to be held at the Scoop on London's South Bank had to be relocated to an indoor venue at the last minute due to bad weather conditions.

Despite the cramped conditions and limited stage space The Jan Watkins Band put on a lively and captivating performance.

The Band fought off stiff competition from the winners of the five other regional heats.

The finalists were all judged by Sue Carling, independent A&R for all of the UK's major labels, Steve Walters, session bassist for The Waterboys, Mariah Carey and George Michael, and Lee Price, production manager for Virgin Radio.

Jody Mills, Amicus Campaigns Officer and Band of Britain organiser said: "The standard of all the bands was exceptional. I'm glad I wasn't on the judging panel as it must have been a really tough decision. However the band that won were fantastic and put on the best performance on the night. I will definitely be going to see them at the winners gig on the 26th."

The band has won studio time with a top producer and a package of top-flight musical equipment as well as benefiting from guidance from members of The AllStars Collective, an organisation that represents the cream of Europe's session musicians.

Ross Harries, guitarist in The Jan Watkins Band, said, "We are ecstatic that we've won the competition. It'll be a great experience to headline the festival and the other prizes, especially the studio time, will really help us develop as a band because they're normally very expensive."

Auntie David's Pearls of Wisdom

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