Charity ‘Big Busk’ concert in Limavady

The ‘Big Busk’ project in Limavady brings musicians from different styles, ability levels and experience from across the town together. The ‘Big Busk’ will give those taking part, many of whom are still in their teens, the chance to play with highly experienced musicians and even perform at this year’s Stendhal Festival.

Those taking part are holding a concert this evening (Thursday, May 15, 2014) at Owens Bar in Limavady.

John Cartwright, one of the Stendhal Festival organisers, told the Sentinel that the community outreach aspect to their annual event is considered an important element of their overall programme. He said: “Every year we try and do some of these workshops as part of our community outreach programme. It is important for us to be doing things like that for the area, for Limavady and for our local musicians and artists. We’ve had pottery and sculpture workshops, crochet and obviously the music with the Big Busk. It has sort of morphed into something more than just the workshops with the Big Busk.”

Amongst those spearheading the Big Busk project in Limavady is local man Don Reilly. He said: “It’s part of a series of workshops Stendhal started. They were doing loads of different things at the same time - they were doing ones about art, crochet, pottery, all sorts of stuff. The Big Busk ran last year. I wasn’t as involved with it last year as I have been this year but I would have went down and took part in a few of the things. Whenever John handed it to me I thought about what I wanted to do and that was to get a lot of young musicians from the town and give them the chance to play with lots of experienced musicians. We’ve been quite lucky this year because we have one of the guys who was a session guitarist who played along with Robin Gibb, so they are coming down to play with some really experienced musicians.

“It’s going really well. There’s a good group of teenagers who come on an on-and-off basis. I think the youngest is about 15. There’s a young fellow Cahir, he would be around that age. He hasn’t been to the workshops but he’s doing a bit at the gig with us.

“I think he plays sport on the Thursdays so he wasn’t able to come along but thankfully he can still come to the gig.

“For me, coming up, in terms of gigging experience, I can see how important it is at any age. The quicker you get out and get playing in front of people the better. You get that wee bit of confidence.”

Another playing a leading role in the Big Busk project is Peter Simmons. He highlighted the charitable aspect to the concerts: “Within two hours we played eight bars and raised £150 for charity. Cancer Focus is the charity. We raised £150 on our first gig and we’re hoping to put a few pound into the bucket when we’re in Frank Owens’.”