Two of New College Durham’s Foundation Construction Award students swapped decorating for drumsticks on Thursday 5 March as their band, Black Static, was specially selected to perform live for HRH the Duke of Gloucester at Stanley Young People’s Club.
The Duke of Gloucester visited SYPC to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of The National Association of Clubs for Young People, and Painting and Decorating students John Bird and Stephen Bainbridge’s band Black Static was selected by their Youth Worker Judith Middlemast as one of the best examples of young talent in the Stanley area.
John and Stephen, both 17, were very excited at the prospect of performing for the Duke of Gloucester, describing the event as “a real privilege” and “an excellent opportunity.” Black Static, completed by Rebecca Morris, Matthew Wilson, Ewen Cameron and Katie Lynch, performed Rise Against’s ‘Prayer of the Refugee’, a song the students feel they can relate to. “We really believe in the lyrics,” John said, “They’re really different and we can identify with that.” Stephen added, “Rise Against manage to express our views through their music and that’s what we hope to do too.”
David Taylor, the College’s Foundation Construction Award lecturer in Painting and Decorating, was exceptionally proud of his students: “This is a great achievement from two very talented young men.”
After the success of the royal visit, Black Static is going from strength to strength; the group is performing at another gig at Stanley Young People’s Club on Wednesday 29th April 2009 from 6:00pm. Other local bands playing alongside Black Static include The Rawr, Consistency and Broken Bullet.