Blender Selects record now available after Kickstarter campaign success

A four-track 12-inch record featuring some of the region’s best unsigned acts is now available after been successfully funded on Kickstarter.

Supporters helped raise more than £2,000 to fund the project which features songs by Sarpa Salpa, Elijah Miller Sara and Banton.

Blender is the project of Neil Frankel and Alan Cooley who put on gigs and champion emerging acts.

Mr Frankel said: “Reaching the target felt great. We had a little party at Herd in Bedford to celebrate - remember when you could do that?

“We were a little nervous about the target as we didn’t want to let the bands down so there was a little bit of relief that the record was going to be cut.”

It features Alfred Benson by Elijah Miller, Say Something by Sarpa Salpa from their debut EP, Lovable Maybe by Sara and Music Is The Drug We All Need by Banton from the Ball and Chain EP.

There have been 600 copies pressed and while the original intention was for bands to sell them at gigs – they are currently available directly from each artist.

Blender has also given each act about 100 copies to sell to help them raise money towards furthering their musical endeavours.

Talking about the project and the reaction from the bands involved, Mr Frankel said: “They have all been very gracious about the whole project and seem genuinely amazed to see and hear their music on vinyl. It’s been a privilege to help make this happen.

“If you were looking at it from a business perspective you, wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.

“But we don't do it for money and we’ve been working with our sponsor Brewpoint who supported a large chunk to make it happen. We loved the process and we'd love to do more.”

Blender Selects sold gig tickets as part of the Kickstarter and remain committed to putting a gig on at Esquires in Bedford when the venue reopens.

Mr Frankel added: “We did a streamed launch which was good fun but we’re looking forward to marking the launch properly.”

He added: “We want to say a massive thank you to everyone that donated, the bands for letting us have their music for free and to the managers for not only cooperating but actively encouraging us to do it.

“Mark Whatham designed the sleeve and put all the artwork together, Neil McCarty gave us his pictures and Mark Allbones at Grand Vinyl held our hand through the process.

“He has been the unsung hero on this project.”

For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com/BlenderMusicUK