One of the most hotly tipped pop acts of 2009 is coming to Lancashire and she is going to teach young people how it's done - in libraries.
V V Brown, who has written hits for Madonna and Sugababes will visit Skelmersdale Library and Leyland Library on May 8th to take song writing workshops and give advice on making it in the world of pop.
Many library services across the country see the value of contemporary music as a way of promoting creativity and literacy in young people and the Get It Loud In Libraries team in Lancashire Libraries is one of the best at encouraging new young visitors into libraries through popular music events.
V V is now making her own brilliant noise in the pop world, appearing on Later with Jools Holland and supporting the Ting Tings on tour. Her new single Crying Blood is out now and her album Travelling Like The Light is released in June.
Part of a series of workshops it follows on from the successful class held by Lucy and the Caterpillar at Colne Library. And it comes under the umbrella of Get It Loud In Libraries with its sell-out series of gigs that have featured some of Britain's freshest pop talent.
Adele played Lancaster Library a year before her debut album came out while recent acts include Florence and the Machine and Bat For Lashes.
Get It Loud
The aim of the shows is to give young people a great time in a library and re-set their perceptions about what libraries do and what they stand for. It's a route back in for those people who have lost the library habit, or never had it to begin with.
Many of the acts have offered their support for the project's aims with Florence Welch, of Florence and the Machine, memorably declaring at the end of her gig, "Thank you so much, it's been lovely here. Go to more libraries, get more books, keep libraries alive."
And it was V V Brown herself who contacted the libraries team to suggest she take some free workshops.
Asked what had attracted her the song writing sessions at Lancashire Libraries she said: "I want to do anything that promotes positivity. Libraries are beautiful organic source for education and building the imagination. Especially for young children. I'm glad to be apart of this.
And she thought it important that young people got connected with their local library. "Books open up the mind and take you down journeys. You learn, you imagine, you grow. The beauty of holding a book in your hand is special and without them I think it's a sad shame as they are apart of history.. books have been around for thousands of years..it's one of the first ways of expression so all hail to the library!"
Tremendous opportunity
Project manager, Stewart Parsons, said: "We are delighted that an act the calibre of V V is backing our plans. Great song craft is as equally relevant in libraries as modern poetry and modern novels. Allowing young people to develop their skills under a tutor like V V Brown is a tremendous opportunity that libraries are privileged to offer".
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council chair Andrew Motion added his support: "It's great to see libraries reach out to engage with young people and show them the riches that lie in their local libraries. This project in Lancashire will undoubtedly encourage them to try a wide range of services from books, to reference materials, to the internet."
Ends
Notes to editor:
- The MLA is government's agency for museums, libraries and archives. Leading strategically, we promote best practice to inspire innovative, integrated and sustainable services for all.
- The events take place at Skelmersdale Library at 10.30am and Leyland Library at 2.00pm. The events are free but places are limited. For more information on Get It Loud in Libraries and the Youth Space project email Stewart Parsons stewart.parsons@lcl.lancscc.gov.uk 07825 431400
- V V Brown biographical details: Born in Northampton, of Caribbean parentage, she gained four A grades at A levels, but turned down an offer from Oxford to follow a music career. In March she played for the Teenage Cancer Trust event at the Royal Albert Hall and she did her first modelling shoot for Vogue magazine which is due out in the April/May issue.