Newcastle collective and party series Shy Bairns has launched a free youth-led electronic music program.
Funded by Youth Music, Get Nowt is a free two-part course geared towards nurturing grassroots electronic talent in the face of rising costs and shrinking access to opportunities. The program is aimed at 19 to 25 year olds based in the North East, and will offer production sessions and workshops covering DJing, marketing, promotion and navigating the music industry.
Students will also be equipped with free licenses for Ableton and Logic, a complete press pack, USB and mentorship guidance for self-releasing a track created during the programme.
Shy Bairns especially encourages applications from participants from economically deprived backgrounds, "LGBTQI+ individuals, those with mental ill-health, neurodivergent individuals, those not in education, employment or training (NEET) and individuals with special educational needs.”
“We are committed to addressing the inequality in the music industry. We want to make sure this opportunity is available to everyone, no matter what their background or the barriers they have faced,” Shy Bairns shared on their website. “Whether you’ve released four studio albums or made three demos, if this course feels right for you please apply.”
The course will run from September to November at Loft Studios, a renowned recording studio located in the heart of Newcastle’s city centre. Dating back to the ’50s, the space is steeped in history and has hosted artists such as The Animals, Jimi Hendrix and Lindisfarne. The four selected participants will receive six three-hour weekly studio sessions, led by some best North East-based producers and mentors.
Applications for the programme are open from 1st August until 1st September. Apply here and find out more about the programme below. Shy Bairns aim to get back to all applicants by 22nd September.
Last year, a photography exhibition celebrating Newcastle nightlife took place at the NCA exhibition space.
Youth Music recently launched a £1 million fundraising campaign to protect the future of the grassroots music sector. This followed the charity’s findings that two in five youth music projects are at risk of closure — an increase of 17% since 2024.
The latest round of the charity’s NextGen Fund also kicked off in May, designed to support young musicians and creatives during the early stages of their career in the music industry.