The Killers’ anthem Mr Brightside was among the songs performed by Music students during the first in a series of free lunchtime concerts taking place this Spring at Exeter College’s new Centre for Music and Performance.

Following on from yesterday’s debut gig, similar events are being held throughout March with a 12.15pm start at 26 Queen Street, and music lovers are being encouraged to come along and listen to the performances and offer their support. Additional ticketed concerts will also be taking place in the evenings as part of the students’ course studies and development.

Laura Wright, Head of Music, says: “It is important for students on performance courses to have as many opportunities as possible to give informal presentations of their work to a relatively small audience in preparation for their live performances to a wider public. It is also beneficial for Music students on different courses, as it enables them to see how others are progressing and share ideas and inspiration.

“Now the new building is open, there is a real buzz about the place. The Music students are really making the most of its facilities.

“We now have this great performance space which we wanted to open up, not only to them, but to students across the College as somewhere they could come at lunchtime, either to listen to their friends’ bands or to use as another meeting place on campus for relaxing and socialising. At the same time, they can enjoy listening to music they love as well as music they may have never heard before.”

While yesterday’s students are in their first year studying towards their Level 3 Certificate in Music Performance, Music students from across the range of courses offered at Exeter College and those studying Music as part of their International Baccalaureate will also be given the chance to play live gigs at Music faculty’s city-based live performance space in future.

Among those also set to play at some of the Lunchtime Music Performances over the coming weeks are those studying towards their BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Music Performance. They will do so in preparation for two Radio One-style Live Lounge evening sessions, open to the public in addition to staff and students on the evenings of March 23 and 24, starting at 7pm.

After these, any fans they have gained will also be able to hear them play live on Phonic FM’s Local Seen and Heard show, between 2pm and 4pm, on Wednesday, March 30, (on-line and 106.2FM).
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Their lecturer Martin Cartwright says: “For my students, the lunchtime concerts will be a build-up to the Live Lounge concerts for which they will be performing acoustic covers in their own particular styles, as well as some of their own material.”