A competition to highlight street music talent in Leeds has been launched by Leeds Beckett University and homeless charity Simon on the Streets.
Sound on The Streets 2015 is a busking competition open to all street musicians in Leeds and will raise funds and awareness of Simon on the Streets, a charity that supports rough sleepers in West Yorkshire.
The competition will be judged by Leeds Beckett University Music Performance and Music Production students and staff, with the grand final being held at popular city music venue, Brudenell Social Club, in December. Daily heats will be held in the Trinity Centre in October, with shortlisted acts then performing in a live semi-final event on Light Night on 9 October.
Speaking about the launch of the competition Helen Beachell, General Manager at Simon on the Streets said: “We are really excited to be working in partnership with Leeds Beckett University. Street music is an great medium for sharing our message and we hope that we have an eclectic and passionate mix of musicians involved.”
Carl Flattery, Principal Lecturer in Music at Leeds Beckett added: “We are delighted to be able to support this competition and raise awareness of such a deserving charity in our city. Leeds is packed full of creative musical talent and we can’t wait to judge the entries!”
Simon on the Streets sole aim is to help and support as many people as possible who sit in the margins of society, suffering from a range of emotional and practical issues such as social exclusion, mental illness, addictions and poverty.
As a direct result of these needs going unsupported, they are often rough sleeping or at risk of doing so, with many being homeless and rootless.
The charity’s focus is on this small group of people who get no support from mainstream funded service provision, because they aren’t able to engage with funded services in the way that they are constructed.
Through regular contact with their service users and the intensive support programmes on offer, volunteers and support workers can start to build up relationships and establish trust with their clients, working with them for as long as it takes to make progress.
Applications for Sound on the Streets are now open until 4 September. To apply please visit bitly.com/soundsonthestreets
