A LEGEND of the Stourbridge indie music scene has put together a showcase of the top local musical talent he has been mentoring over lockdown.

Jonn Penney, lead singer of indie sensation Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, has been helping young bands during the pandemic as part of the MAS Records artist development scheme, alongside recording studio Base Studios, in Rufford Road.

Much of his work has been run via Zoom and Teams as a result of Covid.

With no option for studio rehearsals, he has been focussing on songwriting with them – and now he has lined up the cream of the young crop for a night of live music at Stourbridge Town Hall on Friday September 10.

Jonn said: “We’re all talking about what the pandemic has prevented, delayed and downright ruined for musicians.

“The wounds are truly very deep but these bands, absolutely dedicated to their cause, have been working around isolation, using their creativity behind doors, individually and collectively, to prepare some great music for the emerging world to hear and, at long last, to witness in a live setting.

“Nobody benefits from playing a set of mediocre songs badly or without conviction.

“The bands I’ve selected are ready to put on a tight show, playing songs that have the right ingredients to hook in an audience and they all understand that performance will be key.”

Bands appearing at the MAS BASE BLAST are Mantaray, The Jettys, Don’t Feed The Ducks, Scottish Islands, Bleach, Marstone, Halfway Hotel and The Masses.

For tickets visit www.boroughhalls.co.uk/mbb.html

Bands with members over 18 can apply to join the MAS Records artist development scheme by visiting www.masrecords.org/apply