A record label dreamed up by youngsters has been given the green light after receiving a grant of nearly £10,000.

The idea of setting up a label came after Gamlingay's first Battle of the Bands event held last year. Local charity Forward Gamlingay took on the task of applying for funds for the project.

The charity held a fundraising gig earlier this year to get the ball rolling and to help raise the £12,000 needed, and this week it announced that a grant of £9,700 has been approved from the Lottery Awards for All scheme.

Forward Gamlingay trustee Bridget Smith said: "We are thrilled about it. To be honest I thought we were in with a good chance from the lottery fund because it is such a unique thing we are doing.

"The whole project has been completely driven forward by the youths and they have been brilliant, a real pleasure to work with. It's all terribly exciting."

The grant money will be used to set up the label, fund band development, and allow bands to produce their own CD, which can then be sent out to promoters and radio stations and be sold by the bands at live gigs.

Project volunteer Phil Hunt, who runs music team building company Golden Oriole Ltd, said: "I'm really proud to be involved in this project.

"The bands are ambitious and dedicated and with their talent and a lot of hard work, we hope to be able to give them a real leg-up in what is a very tough and competitive industry."

Gamlingay Records plan to sign up to six bands a year, three of which are already signed by the label – The Jamlinjays, Phoenix Impact and Noize.

The £10,000 will also fund a website dedicated to the project, which is planned to be up and running by June, and a schedule of releases is currently being finalised with summer and autumn dates targeted for the first releases.

A second Battle of the Bands event is planned for November this year, when the record label will look to sign up a further three bands.
The label will launch on Saturday, June 28 where the three signed bands will perform.