LOCAL music group Fenland Jam has received a generous and much-needed boost to develop young musicians in the area. The £7,000 grant from The Local Network Fund will help to provide opportunities for young people aged 19 or under to develop their musical

LOCAL music group Fenland Jam has received a generous and much-needed boost to develop young musicians in the area.

The £7,000 grant from The Local Network Fund will help to provide opportunities for young people aged 19 or under to develop their musical skills and experiences. Through a series of workshops, it will run over six months. Youngsters will get a chance to learn songs, write songs, record, perform and meet with people in the music business. There will be demonstration sessions, visits to venues and recording facilities and lessons on how to promote your act. In addition, all equipment, studio time and rehearsal space will be provided for free. By the end of the workshops, participants should have an idea of how to make the most of their musical skills and have become more aware of some of the various jobs people do in the music business.

Nathan Jones, treasurer of Fenland Jam, said: "This grant from The Local Network Fund is going to help us fulfil our vision for what we can offer the young music community. Fenland Jam is always growing and we can now expand with confidence. It doesn't matter what stage someone is at, whether they have just started playing and what to learn some songs, or if they are in a band and want to learn more about putting on a gig and making a recording, these workshops will have something for them.

"It is really important that people who are interested come along to the first session on May 24 and sign up. Once we know how many are interested, what they want and where they are starting from, we can tailor the workshop sessions to suit their needs."

Fenland Jam has been meeting monthly at local venues for the past two years providing an opportunity for local musicians of all ages and abilities to gather together to socialise and play. Recently members of Fenland Jam staged a fund-raising concert for MAGPAS at a packed Ely Beet and Social Club. More than 35 local musicians took part and £1700 was raised. Future projects include an outdoor jam session in Ely's Jubilee Gardens and a Christmas party at the Beet Club.

INFO: Anyone interested in attending the workshops should visit www.eastspace.net/eeljam or come along to the first session at the Stables Bar of the Lamb Hotel, Ely on Thursday,May 24, from 7.30pm till 9.30pm.

Our picture shows Fenland Jam donating the cheque to MAGPAS and Fenland Music donate a guitar to the charity. Photo: HELEN DRAKE