Grays Beach rock event is back - and you can join in

The showcase rock concert, devised by Thurrock Council and sponsored by Redrow Homes, gives young bands (generally aged between 13 and 20), the opportunity to play live and loud in the great outdoors.

This year in addition to the main stage, there will also be an acoustic marquee, to showcase a different style of performer.

Sally Carpenter of Alchemy Creative Communications, is managing the young bands element of the day and is keen to start working with bands and musicians right now.

She said: "Thanks to some additional funding granted from Arts & Business, there is the chance for young bands, musicians and would-be festival organisers to get involved in shaping the event.

"The content and management of School's Out will be agreed by a steering group of people aged 13-20, which I will chair. I'm urgently looking for anyone who would like to be involved with any aspect of organising, promoting and running an event."

Those on the steering group will have their own budget to spend prior to the event on things such as professional music development workshops and mini gigs.

The project also ties in with some new projects which are about to be launched by Alchemy and Thurrock Council. Alchemy Creative Communications - who already run the successful Unplugged' nights at the Thameside Theatre, will also be handling Mash Music Tours - a programme which will build a local touring calendar for young bands and performers. Sister company Alchemy Productions will operate V-One, a package of music video making workshops and web representation also for young bands and artists in the area.

Anyone interested in becoming involved with the School's Out steering group, or with Mash Music Tours or V-One, should contact Sally Carpenter at sally@alchemycreative.co.uk or via www.myspace.com/ alchemycreative as soon as possible.

It is hoped that the first steering group meeting will take place at the Thameside Theatre in Grays during the Easter holidays.