On Monday 15th April at York’s largest music venue The Crescent, BandSoc hosted Farewell Fest, a heart-warming yet bittersweet evening showcasing the University’s favourite final year bands for the last time.
Four bands, PH7, Trent and the Crickets, Ghostship, and Gents and Ginger played the stage to a packed crowd.
SCENE’s Anna Male and Dan Gordon-Potts could feel the nostalgia in the fairy light festooned community venue.
Afterwards, amidst the (slight) chaos of people leaving, packing up and loading cars with equipment, we caught up with the rather tired band members about their experiences.
PH7’s Emily Jenkins talked about her band: “I love them all so much. This is such a special part of my life and I can’t even – if I start talking about how much – I won’t stop.”
Bandmate Ryan added, “the way I see it, it is the end of a music scene in York.”
“So, there’s anticipation of what will come next, but there’s also the crushing reality of that’s it. That familiarity [that] it’s just done.”
Tom from Gents and Ginger said “there were definitely more opportunities than I thought there would be in York,” and mentioned how “you get to be the support of people coming through, coming up through the system: being what we had.”
Since their inception, each of the bands has grown considerably since their first performances.
Ryan, from PH7, reflected on the music skills he has gained, saying “you sort of learn how to manage with people and treat a song like a song.” He tells us he gained life skills too: “you mature a lot in the music scene, you have to be on time to everything and learn all the songs.”
Others learnt music skills on the job for their bands, as Ghostship’s Dan notes “I didn’t play drums when I joined the band. I learnt the drums.”
Trent and the Crickets chipped in: “Since first year, I was stood on stage and I could barely stand up. I think we’ve all developed into something good and we’ve all got that confidence now. It’s amazing.”
Undoubtedly, the stand out part of being involved in BandSoc has been the sense of community.
Band member Leo told us “we’ve made such good friends. I feel like I came into this band and I wasn’t expecting to end up being friends with this lot because we’re very different kinds of people but we’ve bonded so much with music and it’s so lovely.”
Jane from PH7 added, “not only do you have your band, you’ve got co-bands and you’ve got like friend bands that support you guys and you support them back.”
Bandmate Bel chimed in “and everyone in bandsoc as well, that aren’t necessarily playing that night but are there that night to support, and we support them. It’s lovely.”
Finally, we spoke to Mia Duncan, BandSoc’s outgoing President who took a moment to reflect on what being part of her band and the society has meant to her: “I found my brothers in York.”
“It’s amazing and I love them and I love York for its beautiful intimate music scene.”
On the future of York’s Uni scene she said, “I hope that grows in size but not in scale if that makes sense, and that everyone stays brilliant, lovely and inviting and supportive because it made me who I am and I love my band.”