Preston Scratch Band wants city to pick up instruments for city jam session

The Preston Scratch Band, a regular event pre-lockdown, is returning for a one-off at The Larder as part of the Collective Weekender.

Everyone is invited to bring along their instruments and play and sing along using provided music books that give the words, tunes and chords.

The result will be a band gathering together however many people turn up playing whatever instruments they bring to performing songs from across the decades.

Musicians of all ages and levels of ability are welcome meaning people in the early stages of learning their instruments might find themselves sat alongside experienced players.

Previous Preston Scratch Bands have included plenty of singers, electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, violin, mandolin, ukuleles, keyboards, steel-drums, electric saxophone and a wide variety of untuned percussion.

The songs will be chosen by event leader, Jon Aveyard, who will also facilitate the session to help bring some order to what might otherwise be a chaotic activity.

Jon is a community arts practitioner who leads the Worldwise Samba Drummers and sings with the Preston People’s Choir.

He has supported many other local community arts groups through his Something for Everyone project at the University of Central Lancashire where he also teaches music.

He said: “The great thing about these sessions is that we aren’t rehearsing for a performance, we are just singing and playing for the pleasure of making music together. If things go wrong, it doesn’t matter. We just laugh it off and try again. The results are often quite raucous but always a lot of fun.”

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The selection of songs to be used is a closely guarded secret but past sessions have used well-known classics such as ‘Folsom Prison Blues’, ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’, ‘Mad World’, ‘The Sound of Silence’, ‘Sweet Caroline’, ‘Royals’, ‘Space Oddity’, ‘Sunny Afternoon’ and ‘Tainted Love’.

The event will run 7pm-9pm on Sunday September 12 2021 at The Larder, Lancaster Road, Preston and is free to attend. No pre-booking is required though spaces are limited. There is an optional lasagne available beforehand at 6.30pm for £5 and drinks and cakes will be available throughout.