AN ALL-DAY music and arts festival promises to be the start of something big for Northwich’s teenagers.

More than 100 young people joined in the fun at The Venue in Rudheath in a day of live music, arts, crafts and circus skills.

The event was organised by the Amplify Youth Music Project, which plans to take a break in August and return in September with more emphasis on art as well as music.

Paul Barratt, a volunteer with Connexions who helped establish the project, said: “It was a very very good day.

“All of the arts and crafts went down well in the morning and all of the bands were really good - the headliners, Our Innocence Lost, were amazing.

“With all the hard work that had gone into it we were glad it went so well and the weather was glorious, we couldn’t have asked for better.”

The Amplify project, supported by Connexions, started as a monthly music night for teenage bands and musicians about nine months ago.

Its first all-dayer saw nine live music performances across two stages.

Lisa & Dave opened the acoustic stage, followed by Amplify regular Sam Lyon and Will Garner.

The main stage acts were The Advocates, Demon Skull, Superhero Eugene and the Sunshine Orange Juice Band, King Sherman, Hymn for the Fallen and headliners, Our Innocence Lost.

The event was supported by music school Sound Technique, studio Project 9 and Thinkprint, which provided the materials for a giant art project.

A new weekly Amplify night, called the Monday Night Sessions, has been launched to give young people somewhere to meet, rehearse and collaborate with like minded people.

Organisers are hoping professionals from the creative industries can help develop the Monday Night Sessions by sharing their knowledge and experience and running workshops.

Amplify also hope to get involved in community events and give young musicians a chance to perform in public.

For more information email amplify@connexions-cw.co.uk or ring 01606 305200 and ask for Andrew Bantock or Angela Murney.