Want to play LutonAid 8?   (What is LutonAid?)

LutonAid is taking place on the evening of Friday 17 August and all day Saturday 18 August this year. A lot of bands/artists have already expressed an interest in playing and we want to ensure everyone has a fair chance to be involved, so this year we’ve introduced and application process to make it a bit easier. You need to fill in this form and return it by Friday 1 June 2012.

Please also read the information sheet. And don’t forget to include your logo as a j-peg when you send the form back.

You’ll be contacted to confirm whether you are playing before Friday 29 June.

Why play for LutonAid?

LutonAid 7 bought in a record smashing £7066.65 and, after taking out the costs (just under £1600) and keeping something back to make sure we could cover the cost of LutonAid 8, we were able to donate £4000 to Keech Hospice Care for Adults and Children. This is almost double what we were able to hand over in 2010. This incredible achievement is thanks to all the bands, artists and volunteers who participate every year, and this is why we need you to play, so please complete the application form.

The future of LutonAid

You may have heard the rumour that LutonAid is changing; it is. LutonAid is hoping to register as a Charity.

By becoming a charity we’ll be able to work in new ways to support the development and success of local independent music, be it rock, indie, metal, ska, punk, electronic or anything else that comes along in the future.

We will be setting up the LutonAid Music Academy (LAMA) as a way to do this.

The vision for LAMA is wide ranging, and we’re only just starting to explore the possibilities. It could be local guitarists running Saturday morning sessions for young guitarists who want help to learn the basics of Metal technique or finding new bands an established band or musician to mentor them on how to release a single through digital media or arrange, and survive, a tour. Maybe, one day, we’ll be able to employ local musicians as teachers going into schools and running lessons on the history, influence and legacy of independent music.

Don’t worry, LutonAid the festival will still continue but there is more that we can do.

The aim is simple, to help to ensure that the independent music scene in and around Luton is healthy, vibrant and widely recognised for its quality.

Once again, thank you. LutonAid is what it is, and will be what it will become, because of what each of us brings to it.