Blip 2

BLIP was an annual music project that provided opportunities for young bands to record, publish and play live in front of large audiences. It formed part of Maidstone Borough Council's commitment to provide high quality media arts for young people aged 16-30.

In 1997, 88 bands submitted demo tapes for consideration by a panel including Adam Geary, Arts Officer, Maidstone Borough Council, Jon Dabner, Music Officer, South East Arts, Rob Smith, Alternative Show, BBC Radio Kent, Jomry Vickery, Kent County Council and Trevor Mason, Music Promoter.

BLIP 2 was the third year of Maidstone Borough Council's initiative to bring unsigned bands in Kent a major CD publishing and live music project. The net was cast a little further in this year to trawl the cutting edge of young music talent across Kent. The BLIP 2 project was an extension of the 'Alive' (1995) and 'Blip' (1996) projects which represented the developing music scene in Maidstone.

Thousands of application forms were distributed to bands, venues and retail outlets throughout Kent to find the best unsigned bands. On offer was a day recording one song in a professional studio for the BLIP 2 compilation CD LP, followed by a promotional gig in Maidstone Corn Exchange for two nights (10 & 31 Oct 1997).

The panel of four independent judges selected 12 applicants despite intense competition. The judges felt the bands selected were producing the best sounds in the region. Their energy destined to put Maidstone on the music map.

The BLIP 2 compilation album features bands at all stages of development - for some of the musicians this is their first band, while others have trod the stage at large-scale pop music festivals. But above all, the bands represented the cream of rock and pop talent.

Funded and supported by BBC Radio Kent, South East Arts and Maidstone Borough Council.