Ones to watch: Bishops Castle - a hotbed for unsigned talent

There's something in the water in a quiet, bohemian Shropshire town – which seems to have more unsigned bands than any other in the region.

Bishop's Castle is a hotbed for unsigned talent and bands from the town feature on a new CD, called Where Do You Draw The Line?

Remarkably, for a town with a population of just 1,630, it features 21 different bands – one for every 77 residents.

Jim Gaffney, the brains behind the project – which was launched under the banner 21 Tracks From The Castle – said the quality of the music was first class.

He said: "This album is a fantastic compilation featuring the music of more than 180 performers aged 15 to 85 from in and around Bishop's Castle.

"We think the place should be called Music Town.

"It includes ska, indie, folk, jazz, blues and rock and then there's a classical orchestra, a swing band and at least four different singing groups and choirs."

The CD will benefit the town by generating profits for three local charities: The Andy Fuller/Stumper Fund, which helps young people who need a hand; the Bishop's Castle Community Land Trust, which funds affordable housing for young people in town; and The Severn Hospice.

The line-up on the CD is impressive, with tracks from acts that many Shropshire Star readers will be familiar with, including Nuclear Weasels, Fight The Bear, Will Barnes, The BC Allskas and Thin Vision.

The line-up is completed by Small Blue Fish, The Men From Off, Anything Goes, Way Out West, Sean Dagan, Wayne Martin Band, Joe Farrington, The Marches Community Choir, Movic, Benedict Rodway, Peter Keeley, Blind Eye, Sean Gaffney, The Velvet Dukes and Bishop's Castle Orchestra.

Mr Gaffney added: "What a special town Bishop's Castle is. Though the town has fewer than 2,000 people, there are six fantastic pubs, two of them with their own breweries, and of them music venues.

"It's a miracle that anybody ever gets any work done."

The CD was made with the support of AMP, the About Music Project, which also helps fund the hugely popular Party in the Park.

Worthwhile

Thin Vision member Ollie Farr said tracks had been recorded at The Community College with the help of local musician and producer Will Barnes, an ex-student.

Ollie said: "It was great to work with Will Barnes who had some constructive and useful ideas on how we could interpret our songs.

"It was good to be involved in such a worthwhile project."

Thin Vision were runners-up in the 2012 Shropshire's Next Big Thing competition and will also line-up at #ShropshireUnsigned, which will feature at Shrewsbury Food Festival on June 29 and 30. They will play sets during the bonanza, at Shrewsbury's Quarry Park.

Fight The Bear will also appear at the climax of #ShropshireUnsigned, playing a set at the Walker Theatre, at Theatre Severn, on June 30, which will be hosted by BBC 6Music DJ Chris Hawkins.