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Music students rock the O2 Academy Islington

16/05/2016
Students from two music degrees at Middlesex University see out the year with a sell-out gig at the iconic north London music venue

BA Popular Music students performing at the O2 IslingtonMusic students from Middlesex University saw out the year in style with a sell-out show at the O2 Academy in Islington, north London.

More than 20 acts from across all three years of the BA Popular Music degree played at the MDX Groove gig in April, which was organised from start to finish by first year BA Music Business and Arts Management students.

Gina Tunbridge and Akvile Gailiunaite led the team of students putting on the gig and relished the opportunity to add another experience to their CVs.

“The Groove is all about providing an iconic platform for all of the musical talent at the University to come and collaborate and perform,” said Gina.

“It’s a great experience for us to actually go through the process of working as professionals,” added Akvile.

One of the headline acts at the show were Concrete Caverns, an indie rock outfit who met studying music at Middlesex.

“It’s really awesome to play at the O2,” said Zach Stone, the band’s guitarist. “I think it’s definitely the best venue we’ve played since we formed.”

As well as giving students the chance to see out the end of the academic year in style, the gig put students in the spotlight as academic staff invited their industry contacts to check out the latest up-and-coming musicians.

“We’ve had a number of successful student gigs in London – at the Jazz CafĂ©, Cargo, and the Dublin Castle – but this was an absolute highlight,” said Marcus O’Dair co-course leader for the BA Popular Music degree.

“There were some brilliant student performances and the event management and promotion was excellent.

“It was also great to have some of our friends in the industry dropping by, including Jane Beese who’s Head of Music at the Roundhouse and Head of Mute Song David McGinnis.”

See more photos from the event in the Facebook album.

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