As part of Our Big Gig, a national event to promote music across the country, City Youth Music held an afternoon of music and song in Barney and Jude’s, Sandyford. Our Big Gig saw a variety of performers, with a range of experience and genres, grace the stage with the support of a diverse crowd. The afternoon was efficiently run, and both the young performers, and their audience, appeared to get a real buzz from the gig. The audience consisted mainly of family and friends aged from under 4 to over 70, and the musicians ranged from 9 to 17. The food and drink was very popular, as were the face and nail painting stalls - all of which added to the friendly atmosphere of the event. 37 young people and 3 adults performed and over 50 friends and family came to listen.

The National Citizen Service asked if one of our young performers could record their own composition as part of their journey round the country telling young people’s stories. The Earnest Search, James and Andrew Harrison, recorded an acoustic version of one of their own songs, were interviewed, and later performed at a gig in the O2 Academy as part of the day’s festivities. There were around 300 people in the audience