A Huish band has been selected to play at a major UK festival this year on a stage designed to highlight up-and-coming acts.
‘Placeholder’, a band consisting of Huish students Albert Hacker on vocals, Jake Morin and Millie Clothier on guitar, Kaya Potts on bass and Adam Wood on drums, are set to head to the Isle of Wight Festival to play their biggest stage to date, the Platform One stage.
Recalling the moment that he found out and revealed the news to his bandmates, guitarist Jake said: “I heard first from our Tutor Andy, so I got the band together in the studio and said, guys, don’t go mental now but we’re playing the Isle of Wight Festival! Thankfully it was a soundproof room!”
The opportunity came about from the calibre of students who have passed through Huish and gone on to further success at specialist Music Centres and Universities. The University of Chichester, who coordinate the stage, reached out to Andy Wild, Huish Music Performance and Production Course Manager, to submit a selection of bands. Placeholder was selected for their professional approach and quality of song-writing.
Singer Albert said: “It hasn’t hit yet that it’s actually happening, and I don’t think it will until the day of the festival, but it’s just mad!”
Andy added: “It’s been fantastic to see the band go this far in such a short space of time they have done so much in the year they have been together! It’s great to be able to offer a course that allows bands the creative space, recording facilities, help, and encouragement to go this far.
“The quality of the music they are producing is so good (which makes marking coursework an actual pleasure!). The amount of plays they are getting is a testament to the quality of this band. I am predicting big things from this group of students, both as a band and individually. It’s been a pleasure teaching them.”
Placeholder will have a busy weekend, first playing at local festival ‘TestFest’ on Saturday June 17, followed by a private event on the same day, before heading straight down to the Isle of Wight for their slot on Sunday, June 18.
They will then be at Rock on the Green, in Taunton, on July 22 and at Yarty Party, Axminster, on July 23. The band have their single ‘Leaves in Autumn’ available on all digital streaming services, with their new single ‘Chess’ to be released soon. This is to be followed by their currently untitled album, all written and produced by the band, due out in the Summer 2023.
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