Marking the start of student-run station 'Shockwaves', pupils and
teachers united at Moor Lane's DT3 studio in Lancaster for a friendly and relaxed launch night.

Starting at 6pm, invited guests were treated to drinks and canapes as the school's young DJs spun some tunes.

Speeches later took place from Heysham High's headmaster, students, governors and Lancaster Library's Stewart Parsons – who recently invited the kids behind Shockwaves to interview top band Lionheart Brothers at one of the popular 'Get It Loud in Libraries' gig nights.

Performances on the night came from three of the school's top young bands, D'Rhyme Intervention, Selective Soul and Theatre of Cruelty, the latter featuring the evening's compere and Shockwaves secretary, Sylvia Pearson on lead vocals.

D'Rhyme Intervention, fresh from playing some big gigs in Manchester, impressed the crowd with their cheeky chappie charm and distinctive mix of punk and rap, while new kids on the block, Theatre of Cruelty, put in a good performance of heavier material.

Female trio, Selective Soul, backed by male musicians, treated the audience to a selection of soul tracks made famous in The Commitments, including 'Chain of Fools' and 'Take Me to the River'.

Top stuff from some promising young talent and a great advert for the school. Seventeen-year-old Luke Jones, webmaster at Shockwaves, said: "We thought it was a really productive night. It all came together.

"We couldn't really have hoped for it to go any better."
A well organised evening, fingers crossed it's the start of a successful year for Shockwaves.

A big thumbs up to everyone involved.

* For more details about Shockwaves, go to www.bebo/com/shockwavesradio or email radio@heysham.lancs.sch.uk