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On October 18th 2005, I had the pleasure of introducing a packed room to the Academy of Contemporary Music’s first ever regular live music night. We dubbed it “LiveLinkâ€.
Hauling down all the equipment you could think of (The Star didn’t even have a stage back then, let alone lighting and sound facilities), we eagerly awaited the student response, knowing that without anyone in attendance there couldn’t even be a full bill of open mic acts. Posters were everywhere. Lectures had been bombarded by our announcements. Two great headliners had been booked. We did all we could think of…and it worked. As the queue was forming outside, we were in a rush to finish off the sound checks and empty the venue of unwanted chairs. It was the start of something that I’d love being part of for the next two years.
Reflecting on the 2005-06 year, it was obvious that we had become a well oiled machine. Despite this, it was time to pass the “LiveLink†baton onto some fresh co-ordinators. After interviewing a few nominees, the two most worthy candidates took the positions - Kat Stephen and Sara Cox. It was a brilliant choice, I’m sure you’ll all agree, as this past year has sustained and developed upon our previous success. Now running between two venues, “LiveLink†has opened the doors for many ACM students to hone their art in the live environment.
As I took on a new project for the ACM, dubbed “Live&Loudâ€, I had the opportunity to also book non-student acts outside of term times. Searchlight grew in strength, with relationships with other upcoming entertainment businesses (such as SilverTip Films, FeedMe Music, LMI Photography and Protest Recordings) proving ever beneficial to the artists we booked.
Despite all the great nights, it is time for me to move on in my career, and as a result this is a goodbye. But before I go, I just wanted to thank everyone who helped make these live nights happen …
Performers and Friends:
CARTER BROWN / DAN PRIDY / SENAB / JOHN THOMPSON / RACHAEL MONTANI / ALICE FRENCH / EVE'S ONLY SON / 8 FOLD / OPEN MIC / ALICE LAMB / PAUL HUMPHRIES / ROZ TURNER / LISA KENNY / THE BRIT HOOLAS / DUST TRADE / ADAM FAWCETT / SCARLETT LAPIDUS / WINTER KIDS / CODA / IN DARKLIGHT / PHILIUS GROOVE / DOG ARMY / SOUND CORRUPTION / PIP LINGHAM / SARA GRIFFIN / 2MANYSKINS / BROOK / ROB LEE & THE FREE’S / FRANK HAMILTON / LITTLE THING’S / SENNAH / GEORGEE PALUK / ANDREW FORD / SARAH HURLEY / NIKKI WILLIAMS / KIRSTY SUTTON / NATALIE PALMER / NATALIE ROSS / DUMMY / DUST TRADE / GOODBOOKS / SUBSOURCE / SALLYFORTH / SONDURA / VANITY KILLS / LOKI / FACE OFF / FIN RAZIEL / JAKKFLASH / PHIL WASHINGTON / SOWENA / VAMPS & GYPSIES / AND A THOUDSAND ELEPHANTS / RUSSEL FISHER / INNOGEN / WHAT IS: PROTOCOL / ETERNAL SUNSHINES / THE BLOW UPS / KID COSMIC / RED BEAT / JAMES KEO & THE SLOW DOWN / ROOM SIX / TOY / SANGOMA / RED BURNS BLACK / DY STAR* / BO PEPPER / ORACLE BOY / THE SOLAR ECLIPSE / THE LOUD HOWLERS / FRISKY BISON PRESENTS / GEMMA TRUSLER / THE VINETONES / OUTFIT / GUILDEAN GANG / MUNGO / ELYSIUM PROJECT / ELROY / EXIT AVENUE / SYKAMORE BLUES / PAT KNIGHT / HILLARY GRANGER / BLOODLOSS / KILL THE BADDIES / YOUMETHESWITCH / KC / ELITE / STEM. / MIRNO / UPSETTA / HAPPY STATE / NOHOW / BETWEEN THE LINES / PURGE / MY PASSION / PLASTIC TOYS / BETTY CANE / INGEN / THE SAVAGE JAZZ / ARWEN HUNT / OLD SCHOOL TIE / TALES OF INDIGO / DIAMOND LINES / THE GETAWAY TEAM / JEREMY GEORGE / WILD STAR / HANNAH DAWSON / WORKS IN PROGRESS / HYPNOCHOAD / HALF-JAPANESE GIRLS / MELDRA / ELLIE MAE / JAMES CRAISE & MARK HARTLEY / MARK DELISSER / MOR / SIRENIDE / ROUCHY / ROLY / DAN & ROB / GEORGEE & FOROY / ROBERT LEED / CHRIS & EDD / PAUL & MATT / OLIVER HOLLAND / REBECCA BYRNE / NICKY WILLIAMS / ROKHSAN HEYDARY / MATT HOLT / ROSS CANDY / JOHN & AYESHA / DAN DRIVER / LAURA LOST / OVERTHROW / SE7EN / WITH INTENT / SHAUN O’REILLY / JAMES MITCHELL / PETE SKIPPER / NICK HARRISON / EVERYONE AT ‘THE STAR’ / SARA COX / KAT STEPHEN / MARK BROWELL / JOHN LANGFIELD / DOMINIQUE CZOPOR / ROSS ALLMARK
Stage, Film, and Print Artists:
SHARON DAVEY / NICK GORDON / BAILIE JAMES / CLARE CUNLIFF / SUZI OLCZAK / GEMMA TRUSLER / MATT CHILD / ROSIE APPS / CHRIS PORTER / ED HILL
The Team:
MIKE AVENT / JEN MOSS / SUZI IRELAND / NEIL SIMPSON / JULIA LEGGETT / BRENDAN BYRNE / MARK BOUNDS / WILL FENTON / JAMES DORSET
And, of course, the audience (I can’t help but be a cheesy bastard).
Please keep supporting Guildford’s live music scene as often as you can. With The Boileroom, The Star, Platform 9, and The Tup all running regular events, there has never been a better time to see unsigned talent...help keep it that way.
Thanks again for everything, I’ll see you around.
Ed Bailie
(Searchlight Promotions)
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