Coldplay has given young musicians in Somerset the chance to experience a professional recording studio by donating to the charity Young People Frome. The band, which used Frome’s Cheese and Grain venue to rehearse for their Glastonbury Festival 2024 headline set, raised money by signing and selling CDs and vinyl records at the local record shop Raves From The Grave.
The proceeds are funding 10 recording sessions throughout the year, allowing aspiring musicians to record their own songs at the Cheese and Grain studio. James Brookes, music leader at Young People Frome, explained that the project aims to give young people a taste of what a career in music could be like. “If they want to pursue it further, we can support them,†he said.
For many participants, this opportunity is a dream come true. Twelve-year-old Ines said she was thrilled to record in a space where famous artists, including Coldplay, had worked. “You see it on TV, but you don’t feel it the same way as when you’re in a studio,†she said. “Coldplay is my favorite band, and knowing they were here makes it even more special.â€
Another young musician, Alice, 12, described the experience as “really cool†and expressed her excitement about being in a space usually reserved for professional artists.
Steve Macarthur, director of Cheese and Grain, praised Coldplay’s generosity, noting that their donation is helping nurture future talent. He hopes that some of the young musicians recording today might one day perform at the venue’s smaller stage, and eventually its main stage.
After each session, participants receive a professional recording of their song to take home—a valuable keepsake and a potential stepping stone for their musical journeys.
