Penge music buffs cultivate talented young bands
12:31pm Tuesday 24th May 2005 in
THE sound of the suburbs is alive and well in Penge. A pair of music-buffs are doing their bit to give local bands their big break, away from the bright lights of the city.
Christian Finn and Johnny Crawford started the Ampfarm event, to showcase talent struggling to get gigs in Central London.
One year on the popularity of the monthly concert, at The Alex pub, in Parish Lane, Penge, continues to rise.
Finn, who along with Crawford started his musical life in a band called Audiogene, knows how difficult it is to achieve the breakthrough.
He said: "The music scene needs to give more opportunities for young bands to develop their talent.
"Something like Ampfarm is really important because it is so difficult for bands to get gigs in central London.
"We wanted to give new bands more exposure and the chance to play in front of a crowd."
Finn says Ampfarm is particularly aimed at teenage talent and bands with members aged 14 and above.
The concerts are regularly attended by more than 100 music fans but the last event saw 200 people crammed into the small venue.
The organisers are now hoping to find a bigger venue for their burgeoning battle of the bands.
But what can these fans expect?
"Ampfarm is all about guitars and drums, you will hear very little acoustic stuff," explains Finn.
"We normally have four or five bands, who are each given about 25 minutes to perform their set.
"There tends to be a pretty broad range, everything from indie to death metal, so there is something for everyone."
The pair have just set up a second event, Ampfarm North, in Islington, and Finn says they now have their sights set on conquering the other suburban heartlands of the capital.
"We have an Ampfarm South and an Ampfarm North, now we are looking to set up an Ampfarm East and West," he laughs.
Ampfarm, The Alex, Parish Lane, Penge, June 1, 7.30pm, £4 on the door, 020 8776 7694.
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Finn and Crawford are helping young bands gain exposure, maybe one of them will become the new Athlete (pictured) who hail from Deptford.
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