If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting North Benwell Youth Project we feel really sorry for you. Set in an old shopfront this space serves the community with wild activities designed by their Young People’s Advisory Committee. From glow-in-the-dark parties to craft markets and trips for other young people: there’s a buzz of excitement and activity as soon as you step inside. Climb up the back staircase and you’ll find a rehearsal studio where North Benwell’s young people can make music.
On a quiet, rainy afternoon music leaders Martha and Anna are getting ready to take young people on an inspiration walk. They’ve designed their workshops to reflect the four seasons, and we join them for Autumn Night. In the twilight our band of young musicians and music leaders explore the neighbourhood, chatting about the recent aurora borealis siting in Northumberland and our memories of autumns gone by.
At the head of our parade of music makers is Anna, with a background in folk music it’s not surprising that Anna teaches by doing. Earlier in the term she and Martha gathered up unused instruments and distributed them amongst the girls, a ukulele has came back for the walk and is gently strumming as we look at artwork around the estate, listen closely and you can hear Anna accompanying them with bells. A question of whether the young musicians would like to do street performances is floated and gently buffed back, while they’re all more confident performing in public, perhaps that’s a bit too public!
Young musicians take photographs and chat while we walk, sharing stories from the neighbourhood and pointing out things they hadn’t noticed before: a massive tangle of phone wires, incredibly loud raindrops against a windchime in someone’s window. We’re walking on wet, sluggish leaves so there’s none of the crisp crunch of a stereotypical autumn evening but they’re leaning in close to hear raindrops and squelches. Both music leaders are being led, they’re letting the experts guide them and snap photos like enthusiastic tourists whenever someone points out a landmark.
As we reach an empty playground, Martha produces a thermos of hot chocolate and a little dish of marshmallows and a hush descends as we cradle mugs and look at the pink washed sunset. Like many of our music leaders, music is only one string of Martha’s bow, in addition to her work as a musician, Martha is also a committed activist and coordinator. Complimenting Anna’s approach to collaborative community music with songwriting chops and a dash of punk.
Before the climax of the evening (sparklers!) a young musician mentions that this is why she loves coming, she’s not being forced to do something by a teacher, she’s being listened to and learning new things.
“I choose music!” she declares after finishing her hot chocolate.
After a robust health and safety warning the darkening sky is filled with the sound of giggles and sparkler hisses while we make light paintings with our hand-held fireworks. We tidy up and head back to the space- full of ideas and chat about making our own autumn tunes.
East by North East provides high quality weekly music making opportunities for more than 270 young people from the Black Asian and Minority Ethnic, refugee, asylum seeker and wider communities, based in the West and East end of Newcastle and Gateshead. The project seeks to provide diverse music making opportunities and holds youth voice at the heart of the project. As well as developing participant skills, East by North East also focuses on further developing the skills of local music leaders to meet the demands of culturally diverse communities, as well as using music as a creative intervention to address issues. To find out more of get involved email info@gemarts.org
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