The DVD!

10/Jul/09

I know many of you have been chomping at the bit, asking when the DVD is going to be ready and I have some good news! The DVD’s are designed, mixed, edited and printed and we are just in the final stages of burning them all for your viewing pleasure. We will have them ready for public consumption on Tuesday 14th July.

If you were involved in the academy you are entitled to one free DVD and you can order extra copies by contacting us.

Until next Tuesday, feast your eyes on our trailer! Enjoy…

Posted by Gareth on July 10, 2009

Express FM 93.7

A few weeks ago the Big Shot Bandanas and the Split Personalities were interviewed on Express FM about the demos they have just recorded and their involvement with the HOPE project. We now have, for your listening pleasure the un-cut interviews which were broadcast live for your listening pleasure…

Posted by Gareth on June 19, 2009

Gig Photos

13/Jun/09

I know it has taken a while – but we finally have some cool photos for you to check out of the gig we did a few weeks ago. It was a very cool gig indeed and we are working hard on the DVD which we hope will be available in a couple of weeks. As always, we’ll keep you posted….

Posted by Gareth on June 13, 2009

The Gig

16/May/09

After a good three months hard work the young people of the after school academy finally took to the stage to show off their moves and their sounds in front of a packed audience. It was a great atmosphere and each act was extremely well received! In association with our record label Backbeat Records there were performances from the Big Shot Bandanas, Split Personalities, the Kings Dance Crew and the HOPE Video mentees with a cracking music video.

The entire gig was recorded and so each participant will get a free DVD with the gig on. And of course some extra behind the scenes footage as well! We hope that these will be ready in about a months time, but will keep you posted on here.

Photos of the event will be coming soon!

Posted by Gareth on May 16, 2009

Express FM

14/May/09

Today was a good day. Our two bands, the Big Shot Bandanas and Split Personalities got a slot on prime time Express FM to talk to the guys down there and get their demos played on air. It was a great show and a fantastic experience for these young guys. Not only that, thousands of people got to hear their demos!

We will be getting the interviews uploaded soon so that you can listen to them at your lesuire, but for now sit tight!

Posted by Gareth on May 14, 2009

HOPE Showcase Gig

08/May/09

We are getting very excited around here at the moment as we are all gearing up for the HOPE Showcase Gig on May 16th at 7:30pm in association with Backbeat Records (the record label we have set up to promote our young musicians). The gig will showcase all the hard work that has been going on around here for the past 12 weeks giving the young people a chance to really show off their stuff. The gig is being held at the Kings Centre on Elm Grove – entrance is free and all are welcome!

Performing on the night we have:

  • The Big Shot Bandanas
  • Split Personalities
  • The Kings Crew Dancers
  • Leanne Bourne
  • The HOPE Video team

It promises to be an amazing night! Contact us if you need more information…

Posted by Gareth on May 8, 2009

Recordings…

23/Apr/09

Our after school academy has been going now for nearly eight weeks and the guys who have attended have been doing a variety of things including a recording of a couple of demo tracks for a CD that will be released on the night of the showcase gig on our label Backbeat Records. The tracks so far are sounding incredible and a real testament to the guys in the bands. They have come a long way and we are really proud of the sound they have got.

You can listen to the MP3’s here.

Posted by Gareth on April 23, 2009

We are pleased to announce that the HOPE After-School Academy will be starting very soon! After the success of the Summer Academy we want to offer a similar, yet unique academy that will run after school for 12 weeks starting on February 5th 2009. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Gareth on January 21, 2009

So – it has taken us quite a few months, well nearly 3 to be precise. But the DVD of this years summer academy is finally ready! It has taken quite a lot more work than I had envisaged – but man, it was so worth it. Putting the DVD together had reminded me of just what a fantastic week it was, how stunning the gig was and what a great laugh it was to be doing creative things for a whole week.

The DVD was put together by myself and Mark Rose who did all of the video editing. He worked very hard at that and so a huge thank you goes to him. The DVD is packed with extra features including a directors commentary (well perhaps not a directors commentary, but me, Mark and a few others!), a behind the scenes movie shot by the video mentees as well as all the Banzai videos we made for the week.

I’d love to hear any comments you have got about the DVD. Also if you would like to order any extra copies then you can do so on this page. Order them and we’ll send them right out…

Posted by Gareth on December 15, 2008

It is shocking that the HOPE project has been running for so many years now without a web-site! However, we’ve pulled our fingers out and there is now a place for you to go for all things HOPE. Whether that be information about mentoring or whether you want to purchase more CD’s or DVD’s – this is the place to find it. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Gareth on November 24, 2008