Coldplay Donates £14,000 to Provide Studio Access for Young Musicians

Young musicians will gain the chance to record music in a professional studio, made possible by a £14,000 contribution from Coldplay. The globally renowned band generated considerable excitement in Frome, Somerset, earlier this year when they rehearsed their headline performance for Glastonbury Festival at the local music venue, the Cheese and Grain. In appreciation, Coldplay contributed £10,000 to Young People Frome, a charitable organization that operates a complimentary music development initiative for individuals aged 12 to 18. Additionally, the band visited Raves from the Grave, Frome’s record store, where they signed all CDs and vinyl records. These items were subsequently raffled, generating an additional £4,000. Steve Macarthur, director of the Cheese and Grain, commented on his encounter with Coldplay, stating: “They’re genuinely nice guys and they were very interested in what we do.” He continued, referring to the venue: “The fact that we’re a venue with a difference, owned by the local community and serving the local community.” Macarthur added: “We’re not here to make money, we’re here to make music and I think they just got quite excited about that and came on board.” As a result of Coldplay’s donation, young individuals will be provided with monthly Sunday sessions at the Bert Jansch Studio in Frome, commencing in January 2025. Mr Macarthur clarified: “They don’t have to be particularly competent musicians or anything, they have to be really curious.” He further stated that observing the young participants’ development across multiple sessions would be exciting. “If they’re lucky, they’ll be able to walk away with a recording,” he concluded. Subsequently in the year, opportunities to experience the professional recording environment will be extended to local primary and secondary schools, followed by young people who are not currently engaged in education, employment, or training. Individuals interested in the music development program are encouraged to submit online applications through the Cheese and Grain. For updates, follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright © 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.