From Reading Festival to Avenue Campus – Surge return to their roots for a masterclass in performance

Two University of Northampton graduates who are fresh from playing the Reading and Leeds festivals came back to campus to give Popular Music students a performance masterclass.

Guitarist Alan Jones and bassist Will Smith, who both graduated from the University’s Popular Music course this summer, returned to Avenue Campus with their Surge bandmates to perform for the current crop of undergraduates on the course.

Watch their performance below:

Indie rockers Surge were invited to perform by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music, Dr Jasmine Shadrack, who also brought in graduate electronic artist O’Mahon and her own black metal collective, Denigrata, for the series of live performances.

Denigrata also feature graduates Jordan Cameron and Sean Rawley, current student Nathan Craggs and Associate Lecturer Francesca Stevens.

Watch Denigrata’s video for Kyrie Eleison below:

“There’s no better way to teach the art of performance than to watch those who play on stage regularly,” said Jasmine.

“The students were able to see first-hand how acts from three sub-genres, which are chosen for their composition and performance assessment, work in real life.

“Each performance allowed them to appreciate composition, skill sets and delivery.”

Prior to their Reading and Leeds appearances in August, Will spoke about how the Popular Music course helped prepare him for working in the industry.

He added: “The University really helped in preparing me to be able to work within the music industry and it boosted my drive to succeed, as realistic assignments were allocated where the work had to be of a professional standard. If I didn’t go to university, I wouldn’t have had as many opportunities or connected with as many like-minded individuals that were as passionate about music as I was, and I also wouldn’t be in Surge.”

Visit the course page to find out more about Popular Music at the University.