Sarah Hall A charity which gives people fresh hope through music-making is set to launch its own in-house record label to provide Norfolk-based bands with a boost.

Sarah Hall

A charity which gives people fresh hope through music-making is set to launch its own in-house record label to provide Norfolk-based bands with a boost.

Set up in 1985, Norwich-based arts charity Community Music East (CME) has a team of dedicated tutors and office staff who offer learning opportunities through music and multimedia.

It helps a range of groups in the community including children and adults with physical, sensory, or learning disabilities, people with mental health problems and young people at risk, as well as the general public.

It has 36 members of staff and a stack of percussion, string, brass and electronic instruments, as well as recording and multimedia equipment with the latest laptop sequencing technology and digital video cameras.

The charity aims to increase opportunities, primarily for people who may be disadvantaged either socially, economically or culturally; to develop self-esteem, self-confidence, and a feeling of value and achievement from involvement in music-making.

Adrian Cooke, business manager at CME, which is based in King Street, said: “The launch of our own label is a natural development for us. It will provide a potential platform and outlet of material for the many creative people that we work with.

“I will also serve as a focus for the increasing amount of vocational training that we are delivering.

“We hope in the future to be able to offer apprenticeships based around working for companies within the creative industries such as record labels and publishing companies.”

The first release on the Comuse Recordings label is by Norwich based electronica act Globo.

The three-piece have re-interpreted an album by the band widely regarded as John Peel's favourites, The Fall, called This Nation's Saving Grace.

Each track has been covered with a contemporary twist and features a host of Norwich based bands and solo artists such as The Neutrinos, Mia Vigar, The Sadtowns, Fiel Garvie and Bearsuit.

The album is released on Monday, November 24 on CD and as a digital download from all major retailers.

It has already started picking up national radio play on the Stuart Maconie and Gideon Coe shows on BBC 6 Music and Globo are due to play it at Norwich Arts Centre next March.

Concentrating mainly on Norfolk-based artists, the next scheduled release on Comuse is an album by Norwich Jazz collective Monk Inc.

t For more information on Community Music East visit www.cme.org.uk or www.comuse.co.uk. Further information on Globo is available at www.globo.org.uk