Today Youth Music launch their new initiative Give a Gig Week a music-making extravaganza across the UK, with the charity aiming to have 100 gigs happening in one week (24 - 31 March 2017). Gigs can take place anywhere: your own living room, the local pub, legendary music venues or more unusual spaces. One band, The Monotones, plan to stream gigs live from all Three Peaks in the Yorkshire Pennines!
Getting involved is easy - Youth Music offers a useful support pack with advice on planning and promoting gigs, as well as an online poster generator for creating publicity materials. Sign up at www.giveagig.org.uk
Matt Griffiths, CEO of Youth Music, said:
We're really excited about Give a Gig Week. “The money raised from the 100 gigs across the country will ensure that young people experiencing challenges in their lives can regularly make music. Musicians, bands and those making music for fun know first-hand the personal and social benefits of music-making and how it can help overcome really difficult situations. I urge you to get involved and put on a gig so that many more young people have that opportunity too.

Pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor spoke up for the initiative:
Music is a huge part of my life and I feel so lucky to have been able to make a career out of something that I love so much. Youth Music creates music-making opportunities for thousands who would otherwise miss out. That’s why I’m supporting Give a Gig – so others can experience the joys of music as I’'ve done’.

Youth Music, founded in 1999, is a national charity investing in music-making projects for children and young people facing challenging circumstances. These challenges include disability, poverty, mental health issues, refugee status or being brought up in care. Each year more than 350 Youth Music projects are happening across England. That’s around 75,000 children and young people regularly making music.