‘Sixfest’ returned to the College this year for an evening of live music with a festival atmosphere in aid of ‘Music for All’ and ‘Alzheimer’s Research UK’.

The event was organised by the students and staff of the music and music technology departments and showcased some of the College’s finest musical talent. Dynamic bands, talented acoustic solo artists and incredible DJs performed an eclectic mix of styles, from Blues and Punk to Classic Rock and Electronic Dance Music (EDM). It was a fantastic platform for the musicians to debut some of their original songs with creativity and stylistic flare, all whilst raising money for charity.

During the first half, student bands The Jewellers, Creature Fear, and Sprezzatura wowed the audience. Each performed with an amazing confidence and energy, demonstrating real professionalism. In pleasant contrast, a delicate acoustic set was performed by Meghna Nair, who delivered intimate stripped-back covers of songs by Lana Del Rey and Halsey, utterly mesmerising the audience prior to the interval.

During the second half of the evening, the event shifted up a gear with Maybe Not Today taking the stage. They played an impressive array of authentic 60’s Rock ’n’ Roll tracks, getting the whole audience dancing, followed by an incredible set from DJ SHI, who really impressed with fascinating lighting displays, detailed animations and exhilarating electronic music. The evening ended in spectacular fashion with popular up-and-coming Reading band, Rain Crew, who were fresh from playing the O2 Academy in Islington, London.

Subject Leader for BTEC music performance, Caroline Hordley, commented, “What an incredible event! The students involved in both organising and performing at ‘Sixfest’ really showcased what a talented set of students we have here at the College.”

Curriculum Manager for music performance and music technology, Matt Prudente-Poulton, added “This event just gets better and better. We decided to add a wider variety of musical styles to the mix this year and it really paid off. Every performance was genuinely astounding. I can’t wait for next year!”

Cydne Gambill, second year student and member of the band Sprezzatura said, “We had an amazing time and we really appreciated the opportunity to play our first big gig for a fantastic cause. All of the acts that played this year were incredibly talented and we were honoured to be able to perform in front of such a receptive audience.”