STUDENTS at Lancaster and Morecambe College were in seventh heaven last Friday – they got to knock off at mid-day and also see some quality live music, right on their doorstep.
This was thanks to the college's first ever LMC Music Festival, which saw the college close its doors early and transform itself into a kind of Glastonbury for the afternoon, only with much better weather!
And in a real coup for the college, the festival was headlined by one of Radio 1's most promising new DJs, Greg James.
The tall, floppy-haired 22-year-old, who presents the early morning breakfast show on Britain's most popular radio station, played a set in the college's Hexagon Theatre while a small crowd of students and staff enjoyed an afternoon boogie.
And although Greg admitted it was strange to DJ in front of "people who weren't drunk" he seemed to have a good time.
This was despite the fact he'd been up since 3am and been on-air from 4am to 6.30am, before handing over to the one-and-only Chris Moyles.
What's Moyles like, by the way?
"He's a lovely bloke," answered Greg – who would say that, wouldn't he?
"No, seriously, he's really nice. A bit daunting when you first meet him. But he's done such a lot for the station. It's really strange to be on before this person who I've listened to for years – who actually influenced me to get into radio."
Keep an eye on Greg in the future. Judging by the amount of teenage female attention he's set to be Radio 1's resident heart-throb.
Also performing at The Hexagon were arguably the biggest band in Morecambe at the moment, Seaside Riot.
Two of the former Tin Soldiers – Ryan Wallace and Joe Kondras – are actually students at the college, so their half-hour set was a real home gig.
The Seasiders played some new songs and are noticeably dabbling in the 50s rockabilly that influences heralded Glasgow band Glasvegas.
The lads' sound has matured and grown tighter since I first saw them perform two summers ago when they were robbed at Ma Murphy's Battle of the Bands – robbed, I tell you!
And the fact that Greg James had heard of them ("Yeah, they supported The Kooks, didn't they?") can't be a bad sign for their future endeavours.
So, Seaside Riot – regulars on Radio 1? Not beyond realms of possibility.
Greg James and Seaside Riot were but the tip of a musical iceberg which saw live performances burst out all over the college campus in the most unlikely places.
They included Ruby in the Dust, One Chip Potato and Heroes of She in The Bistro, A Day in the Life and Idol Minds in the Music Lecture Theatre, and Off The Rails and David Hamner in the picnic area. There were also plenty of non-music activities to peruse and enjoy, including illusionist (and college staff member) Dave Wilson, LMC Students' Union Paintball Club firing their (unloaded) guns for fun, a bouncy castle, face painting and some rather scrumptious food stalls.
Despite the fact that the Festival clashed with preparations for an upcoming OFSTED inspection – which meant staff nerves were even more frayed than usual – everyone pulled together to create an excellent event in the Indian summer sunshine.
Head organiser Adele Burrow even said the festival could become an annual happening, and I think that would be a fantastic idea.
